The first Linguatula serrata case in an imported dog in Finland

Tongue worm in an untravelled dog in the UK

“…Infections are widely seen in dogs living in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Sporadic reports of occurrence in dogs imported to northern European countries exist, including the UK, 2–4 but as far as we are aware this is the first case reported in a dog resident in the UK with no history of foreign travel.…”

Linguatula serrata (Pentastomida: Linguatulidae) infection in a paucisymptomatic greyhound imported from Romania to Italy: A case report and literature overview

“…Linguatula serrata infection in dogs can often be asymptomatic ( Globokar Vrhovec et al ., 2005 ; Nagamori et al ., 2019 ; Sievänen et al ., 2021 ) or manifested through mild, as in this case, to severe clinical signs, implying serious ocular involvement ( Villedieu et al ., 2017 ) and progressive worsening of cough climaxing in episodes of dyspnea ( Berberich et al ., 2022 ). Moreover, a report from Italy showed the association between the development of nasal carcinoma and infection with a nymphal stage of L .…”

“…In most of the previously reported cases of linguatulosis in dogs, the infection was diagnosed following the accidental expulsion of female parasites by coughing or, much more frequently, by sneezing ( Globokar Vrhovec et al ., 2005 ; Mitchell et al ., 2016 ; Villedieu et al ., 2017 ; Springer et al ., 2018 ; Thomas, 2018 ; Sievänen et al ., 2021 ; Berberich et al ., 2022 ; Macrelli and Mackintosh, 2022 ), as in this report. In some cases, the expulsion of the parasite occurred by self-cure and because of this phenomenon, the parasitic infection disappeared on its own after adult pentastomids were expelled ( Globokar Vrhovec et al ., 2005 ; Springer et al ., 2018 ; Sievänen et al ., 2021 ; Berberich et al ., 2022 ), as in this case. In other reports, expulsion occurred several days (up to 2 weeks) after the administration of ivermectin ( Ioniță and Mitrea, 2016 ) or febantel/praziquantel/pyrantel embonate, either alone ( Globokar Vrhovec et al ., 2005 ; Macrelli and Mackintosh, 2022 ) or associated with selamectin ( Villedieu et al ., 2017 ).…”

“…The intermediate hosts become infested when they accidentally ingest larvated eggs from contaminated environments. After ingestion, the first instar larva hatches in the intestinal tract and migrates to mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, lungs, spleen, rarely eyes, and other tissues where it encysts as infective nymphal stage (so-called “C-shaped”) ( Sievänen et al ., 2021 ; Berberich et al ., 2022 ). When ingested by a definitive host, nymphs migrate to the nasal cavity and frontal sinus where they develop into adult parasites within 6–7 months and can survive for up to 15 months ( Melhorn, 2008 ).…”

“…Reported prevalence values in dogs range from 37.45% in owned dogs in Nigeria ( Oluwasina et al ., 2014 ) to 76.5% in stray dogs in Iran ( Oryan et al ., 2008 ) and in wild canids range from 1.3% in foxes ( Hodžić et al ., 2016 ) to 67.6% in dingos ( Shamsi et al ., 2017 ). Moreover, some cases of occasional infections have been reported, sometimes as autochthonous cases ( Principato et al ., 1994 ; Paoletti et al ., 2003 ; Bordicchia et al ., 2014 ; Ioniță and Mitrea, 2016 ; Campbel and Jones, 2023 ) but more commonly as cases detected in dogs moved from a country to another country ( Globokar Vrhovec et al ., 2005 ; Mitchell et al ., 2016 ; Villedieu et al ., 2017 ; Springer et al ., 2018 ; Thomas, 2018 ; Nagamori et al ., 2019 ; Sievänen et al ., 2021 ; Berberich et al ., 2022 ; Macrelli and Mackintosh, 2022 ). This has led some authors to hypothesize that L. serrata infection might be considered an emerging parasitosis ( Berberich et al ., 2022 ).…”