Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pneumothorax linked to ongoing Angiostrongylus vasorum infection
By Silva, L M R et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports·2021·Institute of Parasitology, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Pneumothorax in a persistent canine Angiostrongylus vasorum infection.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 6-month-old female dog with a history of bronchopneumonia and pneumothorax was brought back to the vet for further treatment after her initial care didn't help. Tests revealed a severe infection from a parasite called Angiostrongylus vasorum, which can cause serious respiratory issues. The dog was treated with fenbendazole, a deworming medication, and after three days, follow-up tests showed the parasites were gone. She was monitored in intensive care and made a full recovery within three months. This case highlights the importance of considering parasitic infections in young dogs with severe respiratory problems.
People also search for: dog coughing and breathing problems · puppy pneumonia treatment · Angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs · dog recovery from pneumothorax · fenbendazole for dog parasites
Abstract
Canine angiostrongylosis is a gastropod-borne parasitosis caused by the cosmopolitan nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum. It is associated with cardiorespiratory disorders and eventually fatal coagulopathies. A 6-months-old female dog previously diagnosed with bronchopneumonia and pneumothorax, treated accordingly without success, was hospitalized for further treatment. Complementary diagnostics confirmed previous findings plus pneumomediastinum, thoracic exudate, leucocytosis, thrombocytosis, hypercoagulability, and hyperglobulinemia. Coprological analysis showed a severe patent A. vasorum infection. After the third daily fenbendazole administration, all A. vasorum larvae were found dead in follow-up coprological analyses while in intensive care. Upon release, the dog was monitored until full clinical recovery 3 months later. Up to date, A. vasorum infection-related pneumothorax was rarely described, particularly with full recovery of such a young patient. Thus, a parasitological aetiology should be considered for dogs with severe bronchopneumonia or pneumothorax, especially in Europe and South America where increasing numbers of canine angiostrongylosis cases call for enhanced awareness of veterinary practitioners.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34879961/