Angiostrongylus vasorum

Name

Greek: angeion = vessel, strongylos = cylindric; Latin: vas = vessel.

Classification

Nematode

Geographic Distribution

Europe (up to 40 % in foxes, in dogs, and in other canids), Asia, Africa, South America.

Life Cycle

Adult worms (females: 18–24 mm, males: 14–18 mm) appear reddish and live in the arteria pulmonaris and in the right heart chamber of dogs, foxes, and other canids. Eggs are transported to lung, where the larvae hatch and wander via trachea into the throat. Via esophagus they reach the intestinal system and are excreted within feces of their carnivorous final hosts. Further development occurs when snails (e.g., Arion species) or frogs take up these larvae 1. Inside these intermediate hosts, development until larva 3 occurs. In case final hosts feed such snails or other intermediate hosts, they become infected, since the larva 3 enters the intestinal wall and reaches via lymph system the heart.

Prepatent Period

6–7 weeks.

Patent Period

Up to 5 years.

Clinical Symptoms

T...