Angiostrongylus vasorum

 

Contents

 

Rev 01/30/2023

Canine Heartworm Classification Biology and Ecology
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle
Return to Angiostrongylus Menu   Ecosystem Functions and Services
Distribution Management
Return to Angiostrongylidae Menu Feeding  References
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Classification:

Chromadorea

  Rhabditia

    Rhabditida

      Strongyloidea

        Angiostrongylidae

       
Angiostrongylus vasorum (Baillet, 1866) Kamensky, 1905:
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Morphology and Anatomy:

   
   





Males:
 

 

Female:  

 

 


Reported median body size for this species (Length mm; width micrometers; weight micrograms) - Click:

 

 
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Distribution:

 

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Feeding:

  Snails are intermediate hosts and canids (dogs, foxes), definitive hosts

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Biology and Ecology:

  

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Life Cycle:

Proposed life cycle of Angiostrongylus vasorum, canine heartworm,  as an example: 
(a)
 First-stage larvae (L1) are passed out in the faeces of the final host. The prepatent period is around 40–60 days, and larvae are reputedly egested for many years after infection, and possibly for the lifetime of the final host.
(b) L1 larvae infect molluscan intermediate hosts either by ingestion while foraging on faeces or by penetration through the epidermis. 
(c)
 Intermediate host: several species of slug and snail have been infected experimentally but it is not really known which species are most important in nature. Larvae develop in the intermediate host, moulting twice to reach the third stage (L3) after about 16 days. 
(d)
 The common frog (Rana temporaria) can act as a paratenic host after ingestion of infected slugs or snails, and as an intermediate host after experimental infection with L1. 
(e)
 L3 are ingested by the final host, either with an infected gastropod, possibly food contaminated with snail or slug secretion (slime) containing L3 larvae, or a paratenic host.
 
(f) Final host: the fox and dog (and possibly also other wild canids and mustelids) are final hosts. After ingestion, L3 penetrate the gut and migrate to abdominal lymph nodes, where the third and fourth moults take place.
The early L5 then enter the portal circulation and migrate through the liver to reach the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries, where they develop to the adult stage.
The female is oviparous and eggs are carried in the bloodstream to the pulmonary capillaries. The eggs hatch and L1 penetrate into the alveoli, migrate to the pharynx and are swallowed, to pass out in the faeces 
1, 6.
  Adapted from Morgan et al.(2005)

Ecophysiological Parameters:

For Ecophysiological Parameters for this species, click If species level data are not available, click for genus level parameters

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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

 

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Management:

 

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References:

Morgan, E.R., Shaw. S.E., Brennan, S.F., De Waal, T.D., Jones, B.R., Mulcahy, G. 2005. Angiostrongylus vasorum: a real heartbreaker. Trends in Parasitology 21:49-51.

Angiostrongylus vasorum: a real heartbreaker

 

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Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: January 30, 2023.