title: Detection of Angiostrongylus vasorum by quantitative PCR in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in Belgian dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in a series of clinical cases over a 12-month period, report the use of quantitative PCR on broncho-alveolar lavage fluid and investigate the -possibility of previously undiagnosed angiostrongylosis in a retrospective cohort of coughing and healthy dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pulmonary angiostrongylosis was diagnosed based on compatible clinical signs and positive quantitative PCR on broncho-alveolar lavage fluid and/or positive Baermann examination. Quantitative PCR was also performed retrospectively on broncho-alveolar lavage fluid from 65 dogs (55 coughing and 10 healthy dogs), examined between 2008 and 2014; results of Baermann examination were also available in 33 dogs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven young adult dogs from Southeastern Belgium with respiratory clinical signs were diagnosed with angiostrongylosis between March 2013 and April 2014. Positive broncho-alveolar lavage fluid quantitative PCR results and positive Baermann examination were obtained in 5/5 and 2/5 dogs, respectively. In the remaining two dogs, only Baermann analysis was performed. Among the retrospective cohorts, only one broncho-alveolar lavage fluid from a coughing dog was quantitative PCR-positive whereas all faecal samples were negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Until recently, canine angiostrongylosis was not reported in Belgium. It should now be included in the differential diagnosis of coughing Belgian dogs. Identification of affected dogs may be aided by quantitative PCR on broncho-alveolar lavage fluid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: A-M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Canonne
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roels
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Caron
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Losson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bolen
authors.affiliation: Torrance Diamond Diagnostic Services, The Innovation Centre, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX4 4RN.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Billen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clercx
mesh_terms: D000801:Angiostrongylus; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000469:parasitology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*