Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
First reports of autochthonous eyeworm infection by Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) in dogs and cat from France.
- Journal:
- Veterinary parasitology
- Year:
- 2007
- Authors:
- Dorchies, Ph et al.
- Affiliation:
- Ecole vé · France
Plain-English summary
This report discusses a new type of eyeworm infection caused by a small worm called Thelazia callipaeda, which can live in the eyes of dogs and cats. In this case, four dogs and one cat from the Dordogne area in South Western France were found to have this infection. The worms were identified through tests that confirmed they were the same type found in other countries. Although the specific insect that spreads these worms hasn't been confirmed in France yet, it might be a type of fly that has been linked to similar cases in Italy. This is the first time this infection has been reported in pets in this region.
Abstract
Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) is a small nematode living in the conjunctival sac of domestic and wild carnivores, rabbits and humans causing lacrimation, epiphora, conjunctivitis, keratitis and even corneal ulcers. The first autochthonous cases of thelaziosis affecting four dogs and one cat living in South Western France (Dordogne area) are reported and described. Nematodes recovered from the animals were morphologically identified as T. callipaeda and a partial region of the cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 gene (cox1) was amplified by PCR from nematode specimens (from two dogs and the cat). In each case, this was shown to have an identical sequence to the haplotype 1 (h1) of T. callipaeda. So far, the arthropod acting as intermediate host of T. callipaeda eyeworms has not been identified in France although it might be Phortica variegata (Steganinae, Drosophilidae) as recently described in Italy.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17854998/