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Brain and spinal cord haemorrhages associated with Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in four dogs
Author(s) -
Wessmann A.,
Lu D.,
Lamb C. R.,
Smyth B.,
Mantis P.,
Chandler K.,
Boag A.,
Cherubini G. B.,
Cappello R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1136/vr.158.25.858
Subject(s) - angiostrongyliasis , medicine , paresis , spinal cord , pathology , cerebrospinal fluid , magnetic resonance imaging , central nervous system , angiostrongylus cantonensis , surgery , radiology , helminths , psychiatry , immunology
Multifocal haemorrhages associated with Angiostrongylus vasorum infection were observed in the central nervous system of four dogs with neurological signs including depression, seizures, spinal pain and paresis. In magnetic resonance images the majority of the lesions were isointense or slightly hyperintense in T1‐weighted images, hyperintense in T2‐weighted images and hypointense in T2*‐weighted (gradient echo) images, compatible with haemorrhages more than seven days old. Lesions were found in the brain of three of the dogs and in the spinal cord of two. The cerebrospinal fluid contained high concentrations of protein and evidence of erythrophagia. All the dogs had coagulopathy and pulmonary haemorrhage of varying severity. A vasorum larvae were detected in the faeces of each of the dogs. Neural A vasorum was confirmed at postmortem examination in two dogs.