Cardiopulmonary nematodes of dogs and cats cause parasitic diseases of central relevance in current veterinary practice. In the recent past the distribution of canine and feline heartworms and lungworms has increased in various geographical areas, including Europe. This is true especially for the metastrongyloids Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Angiostrongylus vasorum and Crenosoma vulpis, the filarioid Dirofilaria immitis and the trichuroid Eucoleus aerophilus (syn. Capillaria aerophila). The reasons of this emergence are little known but many drivers such as global warming, changes in vector epidemiology and movements in animal populations, may be taken into account. The purpose of this article is to review the knowledge of the most important heartworm and lungworm infections of dogs and cats in Europe. In particular recent advances in epidemiology, clinical and control are described and discussed.

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Canine and feline cardiopulmonary parasitic nematodes in Europe: emerging and underestimated

Canine and Feline Endocrinology and Reproduction

Acute phase proteins (APP) were first identified in the early 1900s as early reactants to infectious disease. They are now understood to be an integral part of the acute phase response (APR) which is the cornerstone of innate immunity. APP have been shown to be valuable biomarkers as increases can occur with inflammation, infection, neoplasia, stress, and trauma. All animals--from fish to mammals--have demonstrable APP, but the type of major APP differs by species. While the primary application of these proteins in a clinical setting is prognostication, studies in animals have demonstrated relevance to diagnosis and detection and monitoring for subclinical disease. APP have been well documented in laboratory, companion, and large animals. With the advent of standardized and automated assays, these biomarkers are available for use in all fields of veterinary medicine as well as basic and clinical research.

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Acute phase proteins in animals.

Canine pulmonary angiostrongylosis: the influence of climate on parasite distribution.

Objective – The aim of this article is to review Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in dogs, including the life cycle, signalment, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment. Apparent changes in the epidemiology of this unique parasite are considered, alongside information available regarding its recent geographic spread.

Etiology – A. vasorum is a metastrongyloid parasite capable of causing an array of clinical problems in dogs, including cardiorespiratory, coagulopathic, and neurologic signs. Currently, the parasite has a worldwide distribution; however, it usually arises in small pockets of enzootic foci. Recent reports suggest a changing distribution of this parasite, which has renewed interest in its epidemiology and in the risk of expansion to new areas including mainland North America.

Diagnosis – A definitive diagnosis of angiostrongylosis is usually made using the modified Baermann technique either using feces or tracheobronchial secretions; however, this review also discusses novel methods such as serologic and molecular techniques.

Therapy – Once a diagnosis of angiostrongylosis is made, prompt treatment should follow with anthelmintic drugs (such as moxidectin/imidacloprid, milbemycin oxime, or fenbendazole) and supportive care dependent upon the patient's clinical signs. Currently, there is no proven prophylactic regime.

Prognosis – The prognosis appears to be very dependent upon the severity of clinical signs at presentation. A. vasorum can be fatal and death may be sudden. However, if a prompt diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment is administered complete clinical resolution is possible.

Canine angiostrongylosis: an emerging disease in Europe

This report describes the first recognised case of Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in a native Scottish dog and its diagnostic confirmation using polymerase chain reaction. The use of this technique to definitively diagnose canine angiostrongylosis confirms the presence of this epidemiologically significant case. The implications of the changing distribution of this parasite are discussed.

A case of canine Angiostrongylus vasorum in Scotland confirmed by PCR and sequence analysis.

The effects of trilostane, a 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitor on basal cortisol concentrations and the results of ACTH stimulation tests in dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism were investigated. In eight of nine dogs trilostane suppressed the concentration of cortisol below the lower limit of the reference range (<50 nmol/l) for a mean (sd) of 3.5 (2.3) hours during the day, but for no longer than 13 hours. In another 10 dogs, there was a clear difference between the post ACTH cortisol concentrations observed four and 24 hours after the administration of trilostane. Furthermore, in the six dogs whose clinical signs were poorly controlled the post-ACTH concentrations observed four and 24 hours after the administration of trilostane were always higher than the equivalent cortisol concentrations in the four dogs whose clinical signs were controlled. A short duration of drug action may be responsible for the failure of some dogs to respond adequately to once daily trilostane administration.

Study of the effects of once daily doses of trilostane on cortisol concentrations and responsiveness to adrenocorticotrophic hormone in hyperadrenocorticoid dogs.

Objective—To investigate the association of 6 clinical features with outcome of dogs with generalized megaesophagus. Design—Retrospective cohort study. Animals—71 client-owned dogs with radiographic evidence of generalized esophageal dilation. Procedures—Medical records were reviewed for data on signalment, age at onset of clinical signs, body weight, evidence of undernutrition, and the administration of drugs to treat or prevent esophagitis. Radiographs were reviewed for evidence of aspiration pneumonia (AP) and to calculate the relative esophageal diameter. Details of outcome were collected from the medical records and by contacting owners and referring veterinarians. The association of 6 factors with death before discharge and overall survival time was assessed. Results—Overall median survival time was 90 days. Nineteen (26.7%) patients died before discharge from the hospital. Radiographic evidence of AP was both positively associated with death before discharge and negatively associated with overall s...

Clinical factors associated with death before discharge and overall survival time in dogs with generalized megaesophagus.

Serum sodium:potassium (Na:K) ratios are often reported in biochemical studies of dogs, although their value has not been assessed The aims of this study were to identify diseases associated with a low Na:K ratio in dogs and to compare their prevalence with the prevalence in dogs from the same referral hospital with normal Na:K ratios A total of 238 dogs with a Na:K ratio less than 27 were identified from medical records Sample contamination with EDTA was suspected in 74 cases (31 per cent) and these and two cases that had been supplemented with potassium were removed from the analysis The remaining 162 cases and 147 control dogs were divided into five categories depending on the organ system affected Among the cases there were significantly more in the endocrine category than among the control dogs Hypoadrenocorticism was the most single common cause of a low Na:K ratio and affected 27 (16·7 per cent) of the cases Other clinical problems associated with low Na:K ratios included different urogenital, cardiorespiratory and gastrointestinal diseases

R. Bell

Papers

Canine angiostrongylosis: an emerging disease in Europe

A case of canine Angiostrongylus vasorum in Scotland confirmed by PCR and sequence analysis.

Study of the effects of once daily doses of trilostane on cortisol concentrations and responsiveness to adrenocorticotrophic hormone in hyperadrenocorticoid dogs.

Clinical factors associated with death before discharge and overall survival time in dogs with generalized megaesophagus.

Low ratios of sodium to potassium in the serum of 238 dogs