Clinical spirocercosis in a dog in the UK

Abstract

A 2-year-old female neutered crossbreed dog was presented for evaluation of a 3-day history of haematemesis, melaena and hyporexia. The dog had been imported from a rescue centre in Hungary 4 months prior to presentation. Abdominal CT revealed the presence of a 3 cm×3 cm×4 cm diameter heterogenous intraluminal mass lesion in the gastric cardia, surrounding the ostium of the cardia and continuous with the distal oesophagus. The mass lesion was subsequently surgically resected. Histopathology of the gastric mass lesion was consistent with a Spirocerca lupi granuloma. The patient unfortunately developed a pyothorax and suffered cardiopulmonary arrest resulting in death 2 days postoperatively. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of clinical spirocercosis reported in a dog in the UK.

Management of aortic thrombosis in a dog 10 days after surgical removal of necrotic puppies

“…Less common conditions associated with CATh include Spirocerca lupi , 17 but to the authors’ knowledge, this has only been identified in the United Kingdom once 18 . However, that case had been imported from Hungary, with infection in mainland Europe considered fairly frequent 19 .…”

“…3,4,9,[13][14][15][16] Less common conditions associated with CATh include Spirocerca lupi, 17 but to the authors' knowledge, this has only been identified in the United Kingdom once. 18 However, that case had been imported from Hungary, with infection in mainland Europe considered fairly frequent. 19 Given there is no history of travel abroad in this case, and parasite control has been kept up to date regularly, Spirocercosis or other endoparasite infestation is unlikely.…”