Giant kidney worm: novel report of Dioctophyma renale in the kidney of a dog in Greece

Abstract

SummaryDioctophyma renale is the largest nematode that infects domestic mammals and is the aetiologic agent of a serious renal disease, dioctophymatosis. It has an indirect life cycle with carnivores serving as final hosts and earthworms as intermediate hosts. The parasite can infect humans with signifi cant zoonotic potential. The pathogenesis of dioctophymatosis is mainly associated with the extent of renal atrophy caused by the parasites, the risk of bilateral renal infestation and the location of the parasite (extrarenal cases). Clinical diagnosis is challenging, and the only treatment option is nephrectomy or nephrotomy to remove the adult nematode. A 6-year-old female crossbreed dog presented with tachypnea, tachycardia and severe hematuria, but died shortly after presentation. Postmortem examination found the right kidney was enlarged and two adult nematodes were found in the renal pelvis. The left kidney was normal. The nematodes were collected and submitted for identifi cation. The two specimens were identifi ed as D. renale using specific identifi cation keys. Herein we present the first case of renal parasitosis by the nematode D. renale in a dog from Greece. This case highlights the need for investigation of the actual prevalence of the parasite and the use of measures for the control of its expansion aiming the protection of dogs and public health.

Epidemiological and Clinical Importance of Canine Dioctophimosis

“…In second, paratenous hosts (fi sh or frogs) per os ingest oligochaetes containing fi rst larval stage forms, which develop in infectious larvae in tissues. A third way of transmission occurs when fi sh or frogs eat crayfi sh species from the Cambarus genus where infected oligochaetes parasites are present (Angelou et al, 2020). Dogs become infected by ingesting some intermediate hosts (oligochaetes, fi sh, or frogs), which contain infective larvae.…”

“…Th e parasite is predominantly localized in the right kidney of dogs but can also parasitize in subcutaneous tissues, mediastinum, peritoneum, and internal organs when it causes an ectopic form of the disease (Taylor et al, 2007;Angelou et al, 2020;Greer et al, 2021). During the indirect developmental cycle and migration of larval stages, D. renale causes nonspecifi c symptoms in the form of lumbar pain, dysuria, hematuria, and general disturbances (Gherman, 2013; Russo et al, 2022).…”

“…Larval forms of the parasite cause trauma by migrating through individual tissues and organs -stomach, duodenum, liver, abdominal cavity (Ferreira et al, 2010). Adults infl ict chemical damage to infected tissues and organs and, by mechanical action, cause compression and atrophy of the renal parenchyma (Russo et al, 2022) and obstruction of the ureter with subsequent hydronephrosis (Angelou et al, 2020).…”

An annotated checklist of the eukaryotic parasites of humans, exclusive of fungi and algae

“…Definitive hosts are carnivores, including mustelids and canids. Zoonotic in humans, harboring L3 larvae or adults ( Angelou et al 2020 ).…”

Comprobación experimental del ciclo biológico de <i>Dioctophyma renale</i>, en un área ribereña al río de la Plata

“…En la naturaleza la probabilidad de adquirir la infección se amplía con la existencia de hospedadores de transporte o paraténicos, como ranas, peces, tortugas, serpientes y otros vertebrados de agua dulce. Las larvas infectantes de D. renale han sido halladas en la pared del estómago y musculatura de peces, Lepomis gibbosus ( localización ectópica o renal (4,5). Ésta generalmente es patente en los caninos, con eliminación de huevos (elementos de diseminación) (6) que contaminan el ambiente.…”