Angiostrongylus

Re: Angiostrongylus

Thomas Johnson — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 13:40:09 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

The map also does not have a time scale on it! Is this the number of cases since the start of time? Since Idexx developed the lab test? Since the arrival of the in house test?

Hardly scientific but I do still have the map up in my room.

[/quote]

I agree, and we don't know what proportion of cases are reported. I guess it gives an indication of relative risk in different parts of the country rather than actual prevalence of the disease.

Re: Angiostrongylus

Bob Russell — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 10:36:28 GMT

The new stuff from Virbac is the same as Advocate! I understand the patent for the combination is not up yet!

Still prefer to wait for the new Nexguard which has flea/tick and if I read the licencing stuff correctly, lungworm. Perfect for the New Forest!

I absolutely hate the "fear" and blackmail campaign raged by Bayer. This is a very uncommon clinical problem albeit with some extremely nasty complications in some cases. Creating awareness is fine but creating panic is not IMO!

The map also does not have a time scale on it! Is this the number of cases since the start of time? Since Idexx developed the lab test? Since the arrival of the in house test?

Hardly scientific but I do still have the map up in my room.

Re: Angiostrongylus

Thomas Johnson — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 09:23:42 GMT

[quote user="robloxley"]

[quote user="Thomas Johnson"]I work in Surrey, and according to the Bayer lungworm incidence map we are one of the four UK postcode areas with over 50 reported cases of lungworm[/quote]

Is this information broken down between local 1st opinion and referral preactices (with a wider catchment area)?

[/quote]

This is a copy I found online of the map that we were sent as a poster for the practice:

There is an interactive version of it here:

http://www.lungworm.co.uk/lungworm-map/

It's not stated where the information has come from to produce the map.

Re: Angiostrongylus

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 19:16:51 GMT

[quote user="bob lehner"]I think the whole lungworm thing is QI. When I was based in the SE of England - a similar response from a large number of practices (with the sole exception of one practice in central London).[/quote]I work on the outskirts of west London. I have seen 4 confirmed cases of lungworm in a career and few suspicious. Of the 4 confirmed all presented with life threatening haemostasis problems. I'd rather not face that again so recommend Advocate routinely (although maybe the new stuff from Virbac now).

Re: Angiostrongylus

Rob Loxley — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 18:13:16 GMT

[quote user="Thomas Johnson"]I work in Surrey, and according to the Bayer lungworm incidence map we are one of the four UK postcode areas with over 50 reported cases of lungworm[/quote]

Is this information broken down between local 1st opinion and referral preactices (with a wider catchment area)?

Re: Angiostrongylus

Wren — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 09:53:34 GMT

[quote user="Sammy82"]

I have seen Oxyuris in horses ( in Germany), never in dogs.

[/quote]

We see a lot of Oxyuris equi in horses in the UK. They can often be mistaken for sweet itch and are exceptionally difficult to eradicate in some cases due to a combination of their chosen living site (rectum, so very hard to get drugs to) and increasing resistance. A lot of people are doing ivermectin enemas and perineal washes now rather than putting the drugs in at the complete other end of the digestive system.

Re: Angiostrongylus

Thomas Johnson — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 09:31:53 GMT

[quote user="bob lehner"]

I think the whole lungworm thing is QI.

I visit a lot of practices in the South West 'hot spot' - Wales, south coast M4 corridor and all the way down into Cornwall. I always ask (just out of interest) whether Angio is considered a significant problem in their patch. Perhaps surprisingly, with the sole exception of one well-known lady in Swansea, the response has been a resounding 'No'. Similar on my travels through to N Wales and the border counties.

When I was based in the SE of England - a similar response from a large number of practices (with the sole exception of one practice in central London).

It will be interesting to see the results of the recent survey which was on here.

[/quote]

I work in Surrey, and according to the Bayer lungworm incidence map we are one of the four UK postcode areas with over 50 reported cases of lungworm (the highest incidence areas). We have seen a few case, but I don't think we have diagnosed a case in over a year, and we have been testing suspicious cases. It's certainly a horrible disease, and we will continue to recommend preventative treatment, but is it the major problem that Bayer have been making it out to be?

Re: Angiostrongylus

bob lehner — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 19:34:06 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]Lungworm is everywhere in the UK[/quote]

I think the whole lungworm thing is QI.

When I was based in the SE of England - a similar response from a large number of practices (with the sole exception of one practice in central London).

It will be interesting to see the results of the recent survey which was on here.

Re: Angiostrongylus

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 10:43:41 GMT

Given that the lifecycle involves coughing up the larvae, swallowing them then passing them out in the poo where you can see them, then logically they will be visible in vomit but only microscopically. Don't know what they would look like though without a parasitology guide.

Lungworm is everywhere in the UK, albeit less so up North but there could be a local hotspot and it is inevitable it will become widespread so someone has to see the first case! If in doubt give it some fenbendazole and maintain on Advocate then you'll be safe.

Re: Angiostrongylus

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:42:21 GMT

Ruths and I agree - and I know a bit about lungworm.

Wynne

Re: Angiostrongylus

ruths — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 21:58:15 GMT

Cool- I thought I was missing something -)))

Re: Angiostrongylus

Sammy82 — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 21:47:16 GMT

I live in Scotland. Never seen any threadworms. I was refering to Strongyloides rather than Oxyuris, I think they are more commonly known as pinworm in the UK (but threadworm in the US and Germany). I have seen Oxyuris in horses ( in Germany), never in dogs.

Re: Angiostrongylus

ruths — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 21:34:47 GMT

Hi Sammy- I wondered where you live. Do you see threadworms in the uk?

Re: Angiostrongylus

Nicola Cole — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 21:20:53 GMT

Yes, she was wormed 5days ago and will be repeated. Thanks for your replies...was just having one of those 'have I missed something very important' moments sat at home!

Re: Angiostrongylus

Sammy82 — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 21:09:54 GMT

I think adults would be big enough to just see with the naked eye at up to 2cm long and 1/3 mm thick BUT they don't live in the digestive system. Sounds more like threadworm to me. In any case, I think a worming tablet is in order.

Re: Angiostrongylus

ruths — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 20:55:39 GMT

No, lungworm is too small to be seen in vomit. If there are worms in the vomit, i would suspect toxacara tbh

Re: Angiostrongylus

Nicola Cole — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 20:43:24 GMT

Hmmm, that's not quite what I meant to ask. Firstly, can dogs vomit lungworm? Secondly, is it possible to see lungworm in vomit? If L1 larvae then should be microscopic, but could they vomit a larger stage of lifecycle with aberrant migrations that could be seen in vomit? A bit of history for context-I have a patient at moment that owner reports thinks has 'tiny white bits, looks like thread' in vomit. Has had intermittent vomiting over past 3 weeks, now bloody diarrhoea and lethargic. Is being worked up with bloods, imaging etc but the thread like worms have me worried if it's possible to see any stage of lungworm in vomit with naked eye....