title: Angiostrongylus vasorum in the eye: new case reports and a review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nematodes of the genus Angiostrongylus are important causes of potentially life-threatening diseases in several animal species and humans. Angiostrongylus vasorum affects the right ventricle of the heart and the pulmonary arteries in dogs, red foxes and other carnivores. The diagnosis of canine angiostrongylosis may be challenging due to the wide spectrum of clinical signs. Ocular manifestations have been seldom reported but have serious implications for patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical history of three cases of infection with A. vasorum in dogs diagnosed in UK, France and Italy, was obtained from clinical records provided by the veterinary surgeons along with information on the diagnostic procedures and treatment. Nematodes collected from the eyes of infected dogs were morphologically identified to the species level and molecularly analysed by the amplification of the nuclear 18S rRNA gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On admission, the dogs were presented with various degrees of ocular discomfort and hyphema because of the presence of a motile object in the eye. The three patients had ocular surgery during which nematodes were removed and subsequently morphologically and molecularly identified as two adult males and one female of A. vasorum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three new cases of canine ocular angiostrongylosis are reported along with a review of other published clinical cases to improve the diagnosis and provide clinical recommendation for this parasitic condition. In addition, the significance of migratory patterns of larvae inside the host body is discussed. Veterinary healthcare workers should include canine angiostrongylosis in the differential diagnosis of ocular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, 70010, Italy.
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colella
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, 70010, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo Paolo
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Lia
authors.affiliation: Eye-Vet Referrals, Apollo House, 41-43 Halton Station Road, Sutton Weaver, Nr Frodsham, Cheshire, WA73DN, UK.
authors.forename: Johana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Premont
authors.affiliation: Liverpool Veterinary Parasitology Diagnostics, University of Liverpool, IC2, Liverpool Science Park, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Veterinary Clinic Paris III, Bl des Filles du Calvaire 17, Paris, 75003, France.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cervone
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, 70010, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Stefania
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Latrofa
authors.affiliation: Clinica per Animali Esotici, Centro Veterinario Specialistico, Rome, 00137, Italy.
authors.forename: Nunzio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: D'Anna
authors.affiliation: Liverpool Veterinary Parasitology Diagnostics, University of Liverpool, IC2, Liverpool Science Park, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, 70010, Italy. domenico.otranto@uniba.it.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Otranto
mesh_terms: D000801:Angiostrongylus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D005123:Eye / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005602:France; D007558:Italy; D008124:Locomotion; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D018509:DNA, Helminth; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S
keywords: Angiostrongylus vasorum; Diagnosis; Eye; Lungworm; Metastrongyloidea; Ocular infection; Snails