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Increased prevalence and geographic spread of the cardiopulmonary nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum in fox populations in Great Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2015

C. S. TAYLOR ,
R. GARCIA GATO ,
J. LEARMOUNT ,
N. A. AZIZ ,
C. MONTGOMERY ,
H. ROSE ,
C. L. COULTHWAITE ,
J. W. MCGARRY ,
D. W. FORMAN  and
S. ALLEN
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C. S. TAYLOR
Affiliation:
Veterinary Parasitology & Ecology Group, University of Bristol, School of Biological Sciences, Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
R. GARCIA GATO
Affiliation:
Animal and Plant Health Agency, Sand Hutton, York, North Yorkshire YO411LZ, UK
J. LEARMOUNT
Affiliation:
Animal and Plant Health Agency, Sand Hutton, York, North Yorkshire YO411LZ, UK
N. A. AZIZ
Affiliation:
Veterinary Parasitology & Ecology Group, University of Bristol, School of Biological Sciences, Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK Faculty of Bioresource and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, School of Animal Sciences, Tembila Campus, 22200 Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia
C. MONTGOMERY
Affiliation:
Veterinary Parasitology & Ecology Group, University of Bristol, School of Biological Sciences, Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
H. ROSE
Affiliation:
Veterinary Parasitology & Ecology Group, University of Bristol, School of Biological Sciences, Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
C. L. COULTHWAITE
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Great Newton Street, Liverpool L3 5RP, UK
J. W. MCGARRY
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Great Newton Street, Liverpool L3 5RP, UK
D. W. FORMAN
Affiliation:
Swansea Ecology Research Team, Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
S. ALLEN
Affiliation:
Swansea Ecology Research Team, Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
R. WALL
Affiliation:
Veterinary Parasitology & Ecology Group, University of Bristol, School of Biological Sciences, Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
E. R. MORGAN*
Affiliation:
Veterinary Parasitology & Ecology Group, University of Bristol, School of Biological Sciences, Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
*
* Corresponding author. Veterinary Parasitology & Ecology Group, University of Bristol, School of Biological Sciences, Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK. E-mail: eric.morgan@bristol.ac.uk
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Summary

The nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum is becoming more widely recorded globally, and is of increasing concern as a cause of disease in dogs. Apparent geographic spread is difficult to confirm due to a lack of standardized disease recording systems, increasing awareness among veterinary clinicians, and recent improvements in diagnostic technologies. This study examines the hypothesis that A. vasorum has spread in recent years by repeating the methods of a previous survey of the fox population. The hearts and lungs of 442 foxes from across Great Britain were collected and examined by dissection and flushing of the pulmonary circulation and microscopic inspection of tracheal scrapes. Sampling and parasite extraction methods were identical to an earlier survey in 2005 to ensure comparability. Prevalence of A. vasorum was 18·3% (exact binomial confidence bounds 14·9–22·3), compared with 7·3% previously (5·3–9·9, n = 546), and had increased significantly in most regions, e.g. 7·4% in the Northern UK (previously zero) and 50·8% in the south-east (previously 23·2%). Other nematodes identified were Crenosoma vulpis (prevalence 10·8%, CI 8·1–14·2) and Eucoleus aerophilus (31·6%, CI 27·3–36·2). These data support the proposal that A. vasorum has increased in prevalence and has spread geographically in Great Britain.

Keywords

angiostrongylosisepidemiologydistributionclimatehelminthparasitewildlife diseasecanine
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 142 , Issue 9 , August 2015 , pp. 1190 - 1195
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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