Retrospectively, 89 cases of dogs infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum were examined. Fifty-nine of these 89 dogs fulfilled the criteria of not being dually infected with Crenosoma vulpis as well as having a full biochemistry profile including serum fructosamine available.
The mean serum fructosamine value of the 59 dogs was 236 ìmol/l (reference value 258–348 ìmol/l) and significantly lower than the serum fructosamine level of 314 ìmol/l in a control group of 42 clinically healthy dogs.
Eleven dogs were available for follow up after successful treatment of angiostrongylosis. In this group, the serum fructosamine value rose from a mean of 244 ìmol/l to a mean of 320 ìmol/l following treatment.
Serum glucose, albumin and protein were all within the respective reference ranges at all sampling points.
The results indicate that serum fructosamine could be affected by infection with A. vasorum.
Furthermore, this change cannot be explained by measurable changes in the level of glucose, albumin or protein.
The clinical impact of this study is that a low fructosamine value may indicate infection with A. vasorum thereby suggesting a Baermann test to be performed.
Source: Willesen, J. L., Jensen, A. L., Kristensen, A. T., Kjelgaard-Hansen, M., Jessen, R. & Koch, J. (2006): Serum Fructosamine Concentrations in 59 Dogs Naturally Infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum. In: Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A 53 (5), 266-269.
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