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Canine angiostrongylosis, caused by the nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum, is an emerging and spreading disease with an increasing number of cases diagnosed in European countries in the last few years; nevertheless, little information is available in Portugal. The prevalence of A. vasorum antigens was assessed with a rapid test (Angio Detect™) in 400 dogs from four geographic areas of mainland Portugal. While an apparent prevalence of 0.0% was found, the true prevalence was estimated to lie between 0.0% and 0.3%, taking into account the non-absolute test sensitivity and specificity. Despite the low prevalence of A. vasorum infection in mainland Portugal, it will be important for veterinary clinicians to be aware of angiostrongylosis in order to consider it in the differential diagnosis of canine diseases (including cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis, caused by the heartworm Dirofilaria immitis).

The human-animal bond has been a fundamental feature of mankind's history for millennia. The first, and strongest of these, man's relationship with the dog, is believed to pre-date even agriculture, going back as far as 30,000 years. It remains at least as powerful today. Fed by the changing nature of the interactions between people and their dogs worldwide and the increasing tendency towards close domesticity, the health of dogs has never played a more important role in family life. Thanks to developments in scientific understanding and diagnostic techniques, as well as changing priorities of pet owners, veterinarians are now able, and indeed expected, to play a fundamental role in the prevention and treatment of canine disease, including canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs). The CVBDs represent a varied and complex group of diseases, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, bartonellosis, borreliosis, dirofilariosis, ehrlichiosis, leishmaniosis, rickettsiosis and thelaziosis, with new syndromes being uncovered every year. Many of these diseases can cause serious, even life-threatening clinical conditions in dogs, with a number having zoonotic potential, affecting the human population. Today, CVBDs pose a growing global threat as they continue their spread far from their traditional geographical and temporal restraints as a result of changes in both climatic conditions and pet dog travel patterns, exposing new populations to previously unknown infectious agents and posing unprecedented challenges to veterinarians. In response to this growing threat, the CVBD World Forum, a multidisciplinary group of experts in CVBDs from around the world which meets on an annual basis, gathered in Nice (France) in 2011 to share the latest research on CVBDs and discuss the best approaches to managing these diseases around the world. As a result of these discussions, we, the members of the CVBD Forum have developed the following recommendations to veterinarians for the management of CVBDs.