Dioctophymosis in a 3 month old canine: case report

Abstract

The Dioctophymosis is a parasitosis caused by the giant kidney worm, Dioctophyme renale, a zoonotic nematode with a freshwater oligochaeta as intermediate host, and wild or domestic carnivores as definitive ones. The adult is frequently located in the right kidney, and the prepatent period in canines varies between 135 and 180 days. Until now, the earliest age in canines for the presence of Dioctophymosis is 4 months. The aim of this study was to describe a case of extrarenal Dioctophymosis in a three-month old canine. A female canine patient was examined for a shock episode, and after death, the owner authorized the necropsy. The main findings were marked abdominal distension, paleness (whitish color) of the apparent mucous membranes, and of the intestinal serosa in the peritoneal cavity, abundant and turbid ascitic fluid with fibrin threads, and generalized peritonitis. Light brown liver with irregular nodular surface, linear trajectories and punctate hemorrhagic foci. Seven juveniles of D. renale were recovered from the abdominal cavity and, one from the liver. The material obtained for histopathology was  processed by the paraffin-block technique, and the sections were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin. Histopathological examination of the liver revealed multiple foci of hemorrhage and necrosis with infiltration of neutrophils. In areas where the prevalence of this helminthiasis is high, the differential diagnosis should be done in puppies under  6 months of age with clinical-pathological conditions compatible with Dioctophymosis.