title: Increased prevalence and geographic spread of the cardiopulmonary nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum in fox populations in Great Britain.
abstract: The nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum is becoming more widely recorded globally, and is of increasing concern as a cause of disease in dogs. Apparent geographic spread is difficult to confirm due to a lack of standardized disease recording systems, increasing awareness among veterinary clinicians, and recent improvements in diagnostic technologies. This study examines the hypothesis that A. vasorum has spread in recent years by repeating the methods of a previous survey of the fox population. The hearts and lungs of 442 foxes from across Great Britain were collected and examined by dissection and flushing of the pulmonary circulation and microscopic inspection of tracheal scrapes. Sampling and parasite extraction methods were identical to an earlier survey in 2005 to ensure comparability. Prevalence of A. vasorum was 18·3% (exact binomial confidence bounds 14·9-22·3), compared with 7·3% previously (5·3-9·9, n = 546), and had increased significantly in most regions, e.g. 7·4% in the Northern UK (previously zero) and 50·8% in the south-east (previously 23·2%). Other nematodes identified were Crenosoma vulpis (prevalence 10·8%, CI 8·1-14·2) and Eucoleus aerophilus (31·6%, CI 27·3-36·2). These data support the proposal that A. vasorum has increased in prevalence and has spread geographically in Great Britain.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Parasitology & Ecology Group,University of Bristol,School of Biological Sciences,Bristol Life Sciences Building,24, Tyndall Avenue,Bristol BS8 1TQ,UK.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Animal and Plant Health Agency,Sand Hutton,York,North Yorkshire YO411LZ,UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia Gato
authors.affiliation: Animal and Plant Health Agency,Sand Hutton,York,North Yorkshire YO411LZ,UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Learmount
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Parasitology & Ecology Group,University of Bristol,School of Biological Sciences,Bristol Life Sciences Building,24, Tyndall Avenue,Bristol BS8 1TQ,UK.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Parasitology & Ecology Group,University of Bristol,School of Biological Sciences,Bristol Life Sciences Building,24, Tyndall Avenue,Bristol BS8 1TQ,UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Parasitology & Ecology Group,University of Bristol,School of Biological Sciences,Bristol Life Sciences Building,24, Tyndall Avenue,Bristol BS8 1TQ,UK.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science,University of Liverpool,Great Newton Street,Liverpool L3 5RP,UK.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Coulthwaite
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science,University of Liverpool,Great Newton Street,Liverpool L3 5RP,UK.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: McGarry
authors.affiliation: Swansea Ecology Research Team,Department of Biosciences,Swansea University,Singleton Park,Swansea SA2 8PP,UK.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.affiliation: Swansea Ecology Research Team,Department of Biosciences,Swansea University,Singleton Park,Swansea SA2 8PP,UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Parasitology & Ecology Group,University of Bristol,School of Biological Sciences,Bristol Life Sciences Building,24, Tyndall Avenue,Bristol BS8 1TQ,UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Parasitology & Ecology Group,University of Bristol,School of Biological Sciences,Bristol Life Sciences Building,24, Tyndall Avenue,Bristol BS8 1TQ,UK.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000801:Angiostrongylus / Q000145:classification*; D000818:Animals; D057231:Climate Change; D005589:Foxes; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: angiostrongylosis; canine; climate; distribution; epidemiology; helminth; parasite; wildlife disease