Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with haemothorax caused by Angiostrongylus vasorum infection
By Sasanelli, M et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2008·Department of Animal Health and Welfare, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Haemothorax associated with Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A one-year-old male mixed-breed dog was brought to the vet with a persistent cough, fever, and signs of depression that had lasted for a month. The vet found that the dog had fluid in the chest (haemothorax) and discovered larvae from a parasite called Angiostrongylus vasorum in both the fluid and the dog's stool. After diagnosing the infection, the vet treated the dog with a medication called fenbendazole, which successfully eliminated the larvae. The dog recovered well after treatment and was no longer showing symptoms.
People also search for: dog cough fever treatment · haemothorax in dogs · Angiostrongylus vasorum symptoms · mixed-breed dog parasite treatment
Abstract
Angiostrongylosis was diagnosed in a dog presenting with haemothorax on the basis of detection of Angiostrongylus vasorum first-stage larvae both in the pleural effusion and in faeces. A one-year-old, male, mixed-breed dog was presented with fever, depression and persistent cough of one month's duration. Clinical examination revealed temperature of 39.5 degrees C, loud bronchovesicular sounds on thoracic auscultation and attenuated cardiac sounds. Thoracic radiographs showed a moderate bilateral pleural effusion and a diffuse interstitial pulmonary pattern, with an alveolar pattern in one lobe. Routine haematology revealed anaemia and leucocytosis with eosinophilia, basophilia and thrombocytopenia. Coagulation assays showed a consumptive coagulopathy resembling disseminated intravascular coagulation. The relationship between haemothorax and the presence of A vasorum larvae in the pleural effusion is discussed. The dog was successfully treated with fenbendazole until negative for larvae on faecal examination. This case report indicates that A vasorum infection should be considered as a possible aetiological cause of haemothorax in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18482330/