Lungworms

Lungworms are common in species, especially dogs and cattle. Angiostrongylus Vasorum is one of the growing concerns in the canine world. 

M.Apri- see pig section.
D.Viviparus- see own section. 

Meullerius Capillaris

• Common.
• Non pathogenic in sheep, but pathogenic in goats.
• Hair like adults in the lung parenchyma.
• Eosinophilic grey green nodules.

Intermediate host-> slug/snail.

Need to distinguish from D.Filaria by the fact that it has no anterior cuticular knob or food granules and has a kink and spike on the end of the tail. 

Oslerus Osleri

The only lungworm to have a direct life cycle.

• Found in tracheal nodules.
• Bitch-> pup passed via L1 in the bitch sputum the infective stage.

Clinical Signs

• Tracheo-bronchitis. 
• Cough.
• Young dogs below 18 months old.
• 10-18 month PPP (unlike 4 week ppp of m.apri). 

Identify

• Low sensitivity to faecal larvae.
• Can use bronchoscopy to identify the nodules. 

L1 moults to the L2 in the small intestine, migrates via the lymphatics and the vascular system to the lungs. 

Crenosoma Vulpis 

• Another dog parasite.
• Fox reservoir host.
• L1- L3 in snails. 
• Show seasonality.

Found in the mucus of the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles. 

Aleurostrongylus Abstrusus

• Cat parasite.
• Adults in the lung parenchuma.
• L1 in the faeces.
• Snail intermediate host and bird/rodent paratenic host (no development). 

Generally asymptomatic but may cause a cough/respiratory disease.

Treatment= Fenbendazole similar to m.apri. 

Angiostrongylus Vasorum 

• Highly pathogenic.
• Found in the pulmonary artery & right atrium.
• Intermediate host= slug/snail. 
• L1 is released from the adult female-> pulmonary capillaries-> alveoli & trachea-> coughed up, swallowed and pass out as L1 in the faeces.
• Can be diagnosed via the baermann apparatus. 
• Take repeat samples.
• L1-L3 in the snail. Slug ingested by the dog. Migrates lymphotracheal to the heart and pulmonary arteries.
• PPP= 5-8 weeks.

Clinical Signs-> 

• Respiratory signs.
• Coagulopathies (blockage of blood vessels). 
• Neurological signs.
• Dysnpnoea. 
• Weight loss.
• Flunctuating haematoma.
• Bleeding disorders. 

Diagnosis-> 

• Often asymptomatic.
• Sudden death.
• Clinical signs and radiography.
• Enlarged heart and pulmonary artery.
• Patchy alveolar and interstitial pattern.
• L1- resp tract. Repeat samples.

Infection foci- south west extending. Fox reservoir hosts and dog movement.

• Milbemycin Oxime
• Moxidectin.
• Febendazole. 
• Corticosteroids/cage rest.