Subclinical Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in a terrier dog kennel

Angiostrongylus vasorum is a parasitic nematode causing severe clinical signs in infected dogs. In the past few years A. vasorum has been repeatedly described in both traditional endemic foci and previously free regions. Nonetheless, the infection is often neglected or unnoticed by vet practitioners, due to gaps of information on A. vasorum epidemiology, and to drawbacks inherent to the clinical and parasitological diagnosis. Indeed, subclinical infections may occur and, when present, clinical signs are difficult to differentiate from those of other canine cardio-pulmonary diseases. Additionally, the gold standard test for the aetiological diagnosis of the infection, i.e. the Baermann's method, is not commonly performed by veterinarians. The present study describes cases of subclinical A. vasorum infection in a Jack Russell Terrier dog kennel in Italy and the ability of a newly marketed rapid kit (IDEXX Angio Detect™ Test) for the field diagnosis of angiostrongylosis, pre- and post-treatment with a formulation licensed for the treatment of A. vasorum.