Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog eye infection from Onchocerca parasite in Portugal
By Faísca, P et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2010·Faculdade de Medicina Veteriná·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A case of canine ocular onchocercosis in Portugal.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old male stray dog in Portugal was found to have a serious eye problem caused by a parasite called Onchocerca lupi. The dog had a growth behind its eye, which was actually a granuloma (a type of inflammation) containing the parasite. This condition is newly recognized in dogs and can lead to significant eye issues. Treatment details weren't specified, but identifying the parasite is crucial for proper care. If your dog shows signs of eye problems, it's important to consult your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment options.
People also search for: dog eye problems parasite · stray dog eye growth · Onchocerca lupi treatment
Abstract
Onchocercosis is a newly recognized disease in dogs that has been reported with higher frequency in Europe and in the United States. We report a case of a 3-year-old male mongrel stray dog from the Algarve region (South Portugal) who had a retrobulbar granuloma containing a filaroid nematode of the genus Onchocerca. A gravid adult female parasite was embedded in a granulomatous inflammation adjacent to the sclera beyond the retina. The parasite was 191 to 267 mum in diameter (mean = 225 mum), surrounded by a cuticule and owing a uterus that was filled with small unsheated microfilariae. The cuticule consisted of two separated layers in longitudinal sections. The external layer had cuticular ridges and the internal layer contained striations. Sequencing of the COI and ND5 mitochondrial genes confirmed the identity of this parasite as Onchocerca lupi. Furthermore, the first sequence of the 12S mitochondrial gene is reported in this study.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20447031/