title: Acute neurological signs as the predominant clinical manifestation in four dogs with Angiostrongylus vasorum infections in Denmark.
abstract: Four dogs with acute neurological signs caused by haemorrhages in the central nervous system were diagnosed with Angiostrongylus vasorum infection as the underlying aetiology. Two dogs presented with brain lesions, one dog with spinal cord lesions and one with lesions in both the brain and spinal cord. Only one dog presented with concurrent signs of classical pulmonary angiostrongylosis (respiratory distress, cough), and only two dogs displayed overt clinical signs of haemorrhages. Results of coagulation assays were inconsistent. Neurological signs reflected the site of pathology and included seizures, various cranial nerve deficits, vestibular signs, proprioceptive deficits, ataxia and paraplegia. One dog died and three were euthanised due to lack of improvement despite medical treatment. This emphasises canine angiostrongylosis as a potential cause of fatal lesions of the central nervous system and the importance of including A. vasorum as a differential diagnosis in young dogs with acute neurological signs in Denmark.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. hbg@life.ku.dk
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gredal
authors.forename: Jakob L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Willesen
authors.forename: Henrik E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Ole L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Annemarie T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Rikke K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: Susanne E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Pors
authors.forename: Geoff C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Skerritt
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berendt
mesh_terms: D000801:Angiostrongylus; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D020809:Central Nervous System Helminthiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003718:Denmark; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008174:Lung Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*