Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Angiostrongylus vasorum infection found in dogs and slugs in Hungary
By Majoros, Gábor et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2010·Department of Parasitology and Zoology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Autochtonous infection of dogs and slugs with Angiostrongylus vasorum in Hungary.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Two dogs in Hungary were found to have an infection called Angiostrongylus vasorum, which is usually spread by slugs and snails. Interestingly, these dogs showed no symptoms, meaning they were not sick despite having the parasite. The researchers discovered that slugs in the dogs' gardens were carrying the larvae of this parasite, but dogs typically don’t eat slugs. It’s believed that one of the dogs may have gotten infected by eating frogs, which can also carry the parasite. Since the dogs were asymptomatic, they likely did not require treatment, but it's important for pet owners to be aware of this infection.
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Abstract
On the course of a helminthological survey of the dogs of Baranya County, Hungary Angiostrongylus vasorum infection was detected in two asymptomatic dogs. Identification of the parasite was based on morphology of the first-stage larvae (L1) isolated from droppings, and successful experimental infection with first stage larvae to laboratory reared Discus rotundatus and Lissachatina fulica snails, in order to exclude species of the family Filaroididae that have similar larvae to A. vasorum. While angiostrongylosis is widespread among foxes, this is the first report of A. vasorum infection in housedog in Hungary. In gardens, where infected dogs were being kept 91 specimens of 6 species of limacid and arionid slugs were collected of which 5 specimens of Arion lusitanicus were found to carry larvae of A. vasorum. Dogs usually do not ingest such large slugs willingly. Frogs are known to act as paratenic hosts in the life cycle of A. vasorum. Since one of the infected dogs harboured also infection with the intestinal trematode Alaria alata, of which frogs certainly play the role of the second intermediate host, therefore it is assumed that in this case the dog became infected with A. vasorum by eating frogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20947255/