Salivary gland enlargement and sialorrhoea in dogs with spirocercosis: A retrospective and prospective study of 298 cases

Abstract

This longitudinal cross-sectional clinical study investigated the incidence of sialorrhoea in dogs with spirocercosis and determined whether breed, body weight and the extent of the oesophageal involvement was associated with this presentation. A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical records of 233 dogs and information pertaining to 65 dogs was collected as part of a prospective study. All the animals were client-owned. Patients from the retrospective study underwent thoracic radiography or oesophageal endoscopy to diagnose and characterise the infection and were placed on therapy with a macrocyclic lactone, whereas the patients in the prospective study had both radiography and endoscopy routinely performed and biopsies of the oesophageal nodules collected where possible. Tru-cut biopsies of affected salivary glands were taken in 10 of 13 patients demonstrating clinical signs of sialorrhoea and salivary gland enlargement. The entire salivary gland was sectioned in an additional three dogs with spirocercosis and no sialorrhoea that were presented for post mortem examination. Sialorrhoea was present in 33/298 cases (11%). Fox terrier breeds were over-represented in the patients with sialorrhoea, comprising 36% of cases, whereas they only comprised 1.5% of the patients without sialorrhoea (p < 0.001, chi squared test) and 5% of the combined group. Dogs weighing 12 kg or less were significantly over-represented in the sialorrhoea group, 69% versus 19.5% (p < 0.001, chi square test). Age was not significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.08, Mann-Whitney test). The number of oesophageal nodules per case was significantly higher in the non-sialorrhoea cases (p = 0.048, Mann-Whitney test). The prevalence of distal oesophageal and lower oesophageal sphincter involvement, and neoplastic transformation of the nodules were not statistically different between the two groups. None of the fox terriers in either group showed neoplastic transformation of the parasitic nodules even though they were over-represented as a breed. Mandibular salivary glands were affected in 86% of cases showing sialorrhoea. Histopathology revealed acinar hyperplasia in all cases with concurrent necrosis detected in only two cases.Sialorrhoea and salivary gland enlargement has an incidence of 11% (33/298 cases) in canine spirocercosis. Small breeds (≤ 12 kg) and particularly fox terrier breeds are over-represented in the group demonstrating sialorrhoea and this appeared to be the only risk factor.The conclusion was that sialorrhoea secondary to canine spirocercosis occurs frequently and its presence should prompt further investigation for oesophageal and gastro-intestinal disease. Severely affected patients can be managed with phenobarbitone to control the dysphagia in addition to the routine macrocyclic lactones treatment.

Long‐term outcome of transendoscopic oesophageal mass ablation in dogs with Spirocerca lupi ‐associated oesophageal sarcoma

“…The clinical signs of oesophageal spirocercosis, benign or malignant, often include vomiting, regurgitation, weight loss, hypersalivation and sialoadenomegaly (Mazaki‐Tovi and others 2002, van der Merwe and others 2012). Progressive growth of spirocercosis‐associated oesophageal tumours often leads to more severe clinical signs, including melena, haematemesis, resulting in pale mucous membranes and anaemia, as well as respiratory signs due to aspiration pneumonia and pulmonary metastasis (Ranen and others 2008).…”

Canine Trichomonas tenax mandibular gland infestation

“…Canine sialadenitis has most often been related to bacterial invasions from the oral cavity as a secondary event to gingivitis/paradontosis or to specific viral diseases such as distemper or rabies [ 17 , 18 ]. A parasitic aetiology of salivary disorders in dogs is uncommon; however, according to van der Merwe et al [ 19 ] canine spirocercosis occurs frequently in dogs with salivary gland enlargement. The present study is apparently the first report of infestation of the salivary glands by T. tenax in a dog.…”

Espirocercose – uma doença silenciosa – revisão sistemática no período de 2010-2021

“…Quando os parasitos alcançam a região do esôfago há a formação de nódulos fibroblásticos que ocasionam a sua estenose, podendo acarretar dificuldade para deglutição, êmese, salivação, tosse, além de apatia, perda de peso e fraqueza pela dificuldade de se alimentar (LOBETTI, 2014;ELIAS et al, 2016;PAZZI et al, 2018). A salivação intensa pode estar associada à indução do aumento das glândulas salivares por estímulo ao nervo vago durante a infecção de S. lupi ao esôfago, gerando uma resposta tecidual na região mediastínica adjacente ao nervo ( VAN DER MERWE et al, 2012). A esofagite granulomatosa causada pela infecção por S. lupi pode sofrer uma transformação neoplásica, e a diferenciação entre granulomas benignos e/ou malignos é determinante para o prognóstico da doença (SANTOS et al, 2005).…”