Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Testing dogs in Hungary for French heartworm infection antibodies
By Schnyder, Manuela et al.·Published in Parasitology research·2015·Institute of Parasitology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Combined Serological Detection of Circulating Angiostrongylus vasorum Antigen and Parasite-specific Antibodies in Dogs from Hungary.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 1.36% of pet dogs in Hungary tested positive for Angiostrongylus vasorum, also known as French heartworm, which can cause serious respiratory issues and other health problems. The researchers collected blood samples from 1,247 dogs and used tests to detect both the parasite and antibodies against it. The results showed that the parasite is present in various regions, including Budapest and southern Hungary. This highlights the importance of testing for this parasite, especially in areas where it is known to occur, to help protect dogs from potential health risks.
People also search for: dog respiratory problems Hungary · French heartworm symptoms in dogs · how to test for Angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs
Abstract
The occurrence of the nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum, also known as the French heartworm, is increasingly being reported from various European countries. The adults of this parasite species live in the pulmonary arteries and right cardiac ventricle of wild canids and domestic dogs. Larval stages and eggs in the lungs induce inflammatory verminous pneumonia, causing severe respiratory disease in dogs. Furthermore, haematological and neurological signs and even death may occur. In Hungary, A. vasorum has been identified in red foxes, golden jackals and in two dogs and some slugs. In this first large-scale survey, 1247 sera from pet dogs were collected and tested by an ELISA for the detection of circulating antigen of A. vasorum and by a separate ELISA to detect specific antibodies against the parasite. A total of 1.36% (n = 17, 95 % confidence intervals, CI: 0.80 - 2.17 %) of the animals were positive in both ELISAs, while 1.76 % (n = 22, CI: 1.11 - 2.66 %) of the tested dogs were antigen-positive only and 2.73 % (n = 34, CI: 1.90 - 3.79 %) were positive for specific antibodies only. Regions with antigen- and antibody-positive animals overlapped and were distributed over nearly the whole sampled areas of the country. A considerable number of cases was observed in Budapest and also in the southern part of the country bordering Croatia, while in the most eastern part bordering Ukraine no positive samples were detected. These results confirm the endemic occurrence of A. vasorum in dogs originating from different parts of Hungary and the significant advantages of A. vasorum serology in epidemiological studies.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26152415/