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Angiostrongylosis is a clinical syndrome of dogs caused by infection with ''[[Angiostrongylus vasorum]]'', the 'French heartworm' or 'lungworm'.  The adult worms accumulate in the pulmonary arterial vessels and right heart chambers and release eggs and larvae into the pulmonary circulation.  The adult worms obstruct blood flow through the pulmonary vasculature and lead to the development of pulmonary undercirculation, right ventricular hypertrophy and [[Cor Pulmonale|cor pulmonale]].  The adults also cause local pulmonary arteritis and [[Thrombosis|thrombi]] are able to form against the inflamed vessel wall.   

Angiostrongylosis is a clinical syndrome of dogs caused by infection with ''[[Angiostrongylus vasorum]]'', the 'French heartworm' or 'lungworm'.  The adult worms accumulate in the pulmonary arterial vessels and right heart chambers and release eggs and larvae into the pulmonary circulation.  The adult worms obstruct blood flow through the pulmonary vasculature and lead to the development of pulmonary undercirculation, right ventricular hypertrophy and [[Cor Pulmonale|cor pulmonale]].  The adults also cause local pulmonary arteritis and [[Thrombosis|thrombi]] are able to form against the inflamed vessel wall.   

The eggs lodge in the small pulmonary capillaries and the L1 larvae hatch at this location.  These larvae penetrate the capillaries and enter the pulmonary parenchyma to cause an [[Lungs_Inflammatory_-_Pathology#Interstitial_pneumonia|interstitial pneumonia]].  This pneumonia is the major cause of the respiratory signs observed in infested animals but, in severely affected animals, [[Pulmonary Oedema|pulmonary oedema]] may also develop.  By an unknown mechanism, the presence of infection reduces the blood concentrations of [[Normal_Mechanisms_of_Haemostatic_Control#Coagulation_physiology|factors V and VIII]] and causes thrombocytopathia and [[Thrombocytopaenia#Thrombocytopaenia|thrombocytopaenia]].  Affected animals therefore often suffer from some form of coagulopathy.

The eggs lodge in the small pulmonary capillaries and the L1 larvae hatch at this location.  These larvae penetrate the capillaries and enter the pulmonary parenchyma to cause an [[Lungs_Inflammatory_-_Pathology#Interstitial_pneumonia|interstitial pneumonia]].  This pneumonia is the major cause of the respiratory signs observed in infested animals but, in severely affected animals, [[Pulmonary Oedema|pulmonary oedema]] may also develop.  By an unknown mechanism, the presence of infection reduces the blood concentrations of [[Normal_Mechanisms_of_Haemostatic_Control#Coagulation_physiology|factors V and VIII]] and causes [[Thrombocytopaenia#Thrombocytopathia|thrombocytopathia]] and [[Thrombocytopaenia#Thrombocytopaenia|thrombocytopaenia]].  Affected animals therefore often suffer from some form of coagulopathy.

==Signalment==

==Signalment==