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Molecular identification of novel intermediate host species of Angiostrongylus vasorum in Greater London

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Abstract

Angiostrongylus vasorum is a parasitic nematode that can cause serious and potentially fatal disease in dogs and other canids. The aim of this study was to determine the intermediate slug species infected in nature by sampling sites in Greater London and Hertfordshire located within a known hyperendemic region. Overall, A. vasorum larvae were recovered from 6/381 slugs (1.6 %) by tissue digestion, and their identity was confirmed by PCR. Infected slugs originated from three different sites in the Greater London area: one in Waltham Forest and two in Bromley. Slugs parasitised by A. vasorum were identified by a combination of external morphological characteristics and molecular techniques and belonged to three different families: the Arionidae, the Milacidae and the Limacidae. This includes two new host records for the parasite: Arion distinctus and Tandonia sowerbyi. This is the first record of A. vasorum in the family Milacidae, indicating that the parasite has a broader intermediate host range than previously recognised.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Emma Wanostrocht for sample collection and The Royal Veterinary College for financial support (Royal Veterinary College manuscript number 715).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Royal Veterinary College, The University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK

    Zainab Patel, A. Christina Gill, Mark T. Fox, Carlos Hermosilla, Esther Keevash, Claudia McEwan, Mahdis Aghazadeh & Jocelyn G. Elson-Riggins

  2. Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, 8 West Derby Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L69 7BE, UK

    A. Christina Gill

  3. Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany

    Carlos Hermosilla

  4. Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium

    Thierry Backeljau

  5. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, 1000, Brussels, Belgium

    Thierry Backeljau & Karin Breugelmans

  6. School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia

    Mahdis Aghazadeh

  7. Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre, Hoofdstraat 94a, 9968 AG, Pieterburen, The Netherlands

    Jocelyn G. Elson-Riggins

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  1. Zainab Patel
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  2. A. Christina Gill
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  7. Esther Keevash
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Correspondence to A. Christina Gill.

Additional information

Zainab Patel and A. Christina Gill contributed equally to this work.

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Patel, Z., Gill, A.C., Fox, M.T. et al. Molecular identification of novel intermediate host species of Angiostrongylus vasorum in Greater London. Parasitol Res 113, 4363–4369 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4111-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4111-6

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