Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Immune low platelets linked to Angiostrongylus vasorum in a dog
By Gould, S M & McInnes, E L·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·1999·Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia associated with Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old Weimaraner was brought to the vet because he was very tired, not eating, had neck pain, and a noticeable swelling in his chest area. He also had a cough and showed signs of rapid heart and breathing rates, along with bruising. Tests revealed he had low platelet counts and severe anemia, leading to a diagnosis of immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, likely linked to an Angiostrongylus vasorum (lungworm) infection. Despite starting treatment, the dog sadly passed away suddenly, and a postmortem showed serious complications from the lungworm infection.
People also search for: dog coughing and lethargy · Weimaraner immune-mediated thrombocytopenia · Angiostrongylus vasorum treatment
Abstract
A three-year-old weimaraner was presented with lethargy, anorexia, neck pain and a soft fluctuant swelling in the thoracic inlet. A cough had been noted previously. Clinical examination revealed tachycardia, tachypnoea, pallor and a large subcutaneous swelling, with bruising, suggestive of a haematoma in the thoracic inlet. Thoracic radiographs revealed a cranial mediastinal mass which had the ultrasonographic appearance of fluid, and there was also a marked generalised interstitial lung pattern. Routine haematology revealed severe anaemia and thrombocytopenia, although coagulation tests were within normal limits. A diagnosis of immune-mediated thrombocytopenia was however made on the basis of a positive antiplatelet antibody test and a rapid response to prednisolone therapy. Furthermore, a tentative diagnosis of Angiostrongylus vasorum infection was suggested on the basis of clinical and radiographic findings, although no lungworm larvae were identified on faecal analysis. Despite initiating treatment with fenbendazole, the dog died suddenly. Postmortem examination revealed myocarditis, thrombosing arteritis, pneumonia and chronic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis associated with A vasorum infection.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10385868/