Lungworm information ... very helpful

Shani · Last edited by Shani on Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:36 pm; edited 1 time in total

Lungworm in Dogs and Cats
Metastrongyle infections due to Angiostrongylus vasorum (dog lungworm), Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (cat lungworm) and Crenosoma vulpis are widespread throughout the UK with hotspots of infection in certain geographical areas.

A. vasorum (Lungworm)

In our experience these infections appear to be on the increase with multiple presenting clinical signs and one confirmed death at post mortem.

Dogs contract Angiostrongylus vasorum infection by ingesting the L3 larvae in the intermediate host - snails and slugs. The L3 larvae migrate to the mesenteric lymph nodes and mature into L5 larvae before migrating via the lymphatics, liver and caudal vena cava entering the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries by the 9-10th day after infection. Thread-like adults develop in the pulmonary circulation and deposit eggs in the terminal pulmonary capillaries. The eggs hatch; larvae escape into the alveoli and bronchioles and are coughed up and passed in the faeces of the host where they are ingested by slugs and snails feeding on the faeces. The presence of the adult nematodes in the lungs cause an immunological response which is the basis for many of the clinical signs and subsequent pathology of the disease. Crenosoma vulpis infection shows the same lifecycle but produces a mild inflammatory response presenting as a productive cough.

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in the cat follows a relatively similar lifecycle with birds and rodents as intermediate hosts, but pathogenicity is low. However the presence of the adult worms in the airways can provoke an intense inflammatory response causing significant respiratory disease.

Screening for lungworm should be undertaken in those cases where the presenting signs include any of the following:

Respiratory signs: coughing, dyspnoea, hyperpnoea, tachypnoea, auscultatory wheezing.

And in dogs suspected of A. vasorum infection

Cardiovascular signs: tachycardia, subcutaneous oedema, limb swelling, ascites/pleural effusion

Coagulation abnormalities: prolonged bleeding, prolonged capillary refill time, haematochezia, subcutaneous haematoma, and other signs of thromboembolic disease.

CNS signs: ataxia, incoordination, gait abnormalities

Plus general signs of unknown aetiology: anorexia, cachexia, pyrexia, malaise, collapse.

Common haemogram abnormalities included thrombocytopenia, hyperglobulinaemia, eosinophilia, neutrophilia and anaemia. Some clinical cases can have hypercalcaemia.

Thoracic radiographs can show abnormalities such as a patchy alveolar-interstitial pattern affecting the dorsocaudal lung fields, bronchial thickening and mild pleural effusions.

Diagnosis:
Definitive diagnosis requires the demonstration of L1 larvae in the faeces using the Baermann sedimentation technique. In suspected lungworm infections, due to the intermittent nature of shedding of the larvae, it is suggested that in order to exclude the diagnosis it is necessary to examine multiple faecal samples over a 1 week period. Larvae can also be demonstrated in BAL samples, but this technique is less sensitive and false negatives are common.

Treatment:
SPECIFIC
(Please be aware there are no licensed products for the treatment of lungworm infection)
Below are some suggestions for treatment, but data sheets should be consulted for correct dosage
1) Fenbendazole: 50 mg/kg PO for 7 days.
2) Milbemycin oxime: 0.5 mg/kg PO
3) Ivermectin: 0.2 mg/kg SC weekly for 2 weeks.
SUPPORTIVE
1) Use appropriate supportive care based on the clinical signs.
2) Severe dyspnoea and ascites may occur post-treatment, necessitating the use of broncho-dilators, expectorants, and/or diuretics for a short time.

AS most of you know my PEPSI has a heart complaint and is being seen by the vets at the RVC .... Pepsi may have lungworm I will know for sure tomorrow ...but she is showing 80% of the symtoms on here .....

Please watch out for your furbies taking a liking to Snails or slugs ....

http://www.labradorforums.co.uk/ftopict-25068-.html
Thread about pepsi a few weeks ago .....

_Nikki_ · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 2:39 am Post subject:

Oh, I have never heard of lungworm in either dogs or cats.

Great informative post!

I hope poor Pepsi dosen't have this. Wishing you & Pepsi all the best.

_Jules_ · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 5:54 am Post subject:

Oh Gosh...I thought Lungworm only affected Donkeys in this country Shocked

.
Thanks for alerting us all Shani, although I'm sorry to hear what promted this is Pepsi being ill. Sad

tickatape · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 5:59 am Post subject:

Oh god we always have lots of slugs in our garden - never noticed if Truffs eats them Shocked

Thank you xx

Shani · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:20 am Post subject:

Bump and could a mod make this a Sticky please ....important information thats needs to be seen I think ... thanks

rach_willibob · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:28 am Post subject:

Yes I agree Shani - never realised that snails could cause lungworm - thanks for posting

sheens · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:33 am Post subject:

Claw · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:35 am Post subject:

Thanks for the info.......never knew this.

Wendy xx

sheppeylady · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:19 am Post subject:

Thanks Shani

My 2 babes like slugs & snails, they are now well off the menue

wonder · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:26 am Post subject:

Shani,

thank you for this post! Zonks and I hope your Pepsi girl is ok.