Comprehensive Map of Canine Angiostrongylosis in Dogs in Spain
2022
Elena Carretón | Rodrigo Morchón | Sara Nieves García-Rodríguez | Iván Rodríguez-Escolar | Jorge Isidoro Matos | Noelia Costa-Rodríguez | José Alberto Montoya-Alonso
Canine angiostrongylosis is an emerging disease caused by <i>Angiostrongylus vasorum</i>, mainly affecting wild carnivores and dogs. In Spain, there are studies reporting infections in foxes, wolves, and badgers in different regions of the country. However, there are hardly any publications on its prevalence in dogs. The aim of this study was to complete and update the epidemiologic map of <i>A. vasorum</i> in dogs in Spain. A total of 5619 canine blood samples from all autonomous cities and provinces of Spain were collected and tested for the presence of circulating <i>A. vasorum</i> antigens. The overall apparent prevalence of canine <i>A. vasorum</i> infection in Spain was 1.39%. No significant differences were found for sex or age, but significant differences between outdoor and indoor/outdoor dogs were found. A high prevalence was also observed in the northern third of the country, where an oceanic climate prevails, being humid and rainy and where abundant vegetation can be found, thus favoring the proliferation of intermediate hosts. The results suggest that <i>A. vasorum</i> canine infections are heterogeneously present in a large part of the territory, demonstrating its expansion throughout the country, and therefore, awareness and prevention campaigns for this disease should be promoted.
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