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==Description==
==Description==
Angiostrongylosis is a clinical syndrome caused by infection with ''[[Angiostrongylus vasorum]]'', the 'French heartworm' or 'lungworm'. The adult worms accumulate in the pulmonary arterial vessels and release eggs and larvae into the circulation. The adult worms obstruct blood flow through the pulmonary circulation and lead to the development of pulmonary undercirculation, right ventricular hypertrophy and [[Cor Pulmonale]]. By an unknown mechanism, the presence of infection reduces the blood concentrations of factors V and VIII and causes thrombocytopathia and thrombocytopaenia. Affected animals therefore often suffer from some form of coagulopathy.
Angiostrongylosis is a clinical syndrome 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 circulation. The adult worms obstruct blood flow through the pulmonary circulation and lead to the development of pulmonary undercirculation, right ventricular hypertrophy and [[Cor Pulmonale|cor pulmonale]]. The adults also cause local inflammation of the pulmonary arteries 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 interstitial [[Pneumonia|pneumonia]]. This pneumonia is the major cause of the respiratory signs observed in infested animals but, in severely affected animals, [[Lungs Circulatory - Pathology#Pulmonary oedema|pulmonary oedema]] may also develop. By an unknown mechanism, the presence of infection reduces the blood concentrations of factors V and VIII and causes thrombocytopathia and thrombocytopaenia. Affected animals therefore often suffer from some form of coagulopathy.
*Gross:
**Patchy white appearance with haemorrhagic areas within
*Microscopically:
**Golden pigment within macrophages (haemosiderin)
**Inflammation and scarring of alveolar walls -> enlargement of remaining air spaces
[[Lungs Circulatory - Pathology#Embolism, thrombosis and infarction|pulmonary thromboembolism]]
==Signalment==
==Signalment==
The lungworm is acquired when dogs eat slugs and snails infected the the L3 larvae. It is therefore crucial to establish whether the dog does eat slugs or snails.
The lungworm is acquired when dogs eat slugs and snails infected the the L3 larvae. It is therefore crucial to establish whether the dog does eat slugs or snails. As foxes are also able to act as definitive hosts, areas with a dense population of foxes are likely to have a high lungworm prevalence. ''A. vasorum'' was traditionally considered to be a disease acquired by animals that had travelled to Europe but it is now being diagnosed in untravelled animals as far north in the UK as Scotland<ref>Helm J, Gilleard JS, Jackson M, Redman E, Bell R. '''A case of canine Angiostrongylus vasorum in Scotland confirmed by PCR and sequence analysis.''' ''J Small Anim Pract. 2009 May;50(5):255-9.''</ref>.
==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
===Clinical Signs===
===Clinical Signs===
*Pulmonary disease
*Pulmonary disease
*Cardiovascular disease
*Cardiovascular disease
The results of a recent study indicate that the most common clinical signs observed in infected dogs are '''cough''' (65%), '''dyspnoea''' (43%), '''coagulopathy''' (35%) and '''collapse''' (26%)<ref>Chapman PS, Boag AK, Guitian J, Boswood A. '''Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in 23 dogs (1999-2002).''' ''J Small Anim Pract. 2004 Sep;45(9):435-40.''</ref>.
===Laboratory Tests===
===Laboratory Tests===
Eosinophilia.
Eosinophilia.