Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with fatal liver infection from fox tapeworm in Germany
By Meyer, Anja et al.·Published in Berliner und Munchener tierarztliche Wochenschrift·2013·Institut fü, Germany·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: [Lethal alveolar echinococcosis in a dog: clinical symptoms and pathology].
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old dog from Brandenburg was brought in with a swollen belly and was found to have severe liver damage caused by a tapeworm infection known as alveolar echinococcosis. Despite attempts to explore the abdomen for possible treatment, the lesions were deemed inoperable, and the dog was euthanized due to a poor prognosis. The infection was confirmed to be caused by the small fox tapeworm, which can be transmitted to humans through contaminated food or water. This case highlights the importance of monitoring for this infection in dogs, especially in areas where foxes are present.
People also search for: dog swollen belly · tapeworm infection in dogs · dog liver disease symptoms · what is alveolar echinococcosis · fox tapeworm in pets
Abstract
Epidemiological data indicate a progressing spread of the fox tapeworm in Germany. Here we report on a case of lethal alveolar echinococcosis in a dog from Brandenburg. The patient was clinically presented with abdominal distension. Ultrasonic examination revealed severe structural alterations of the liver and in a fine needle aspiration cytology larval tape worm fragments were suspected. Explorative laparotomy suggested inoperable lesions and the animal was euthanized with unfavorable prognosis. Pathology confirmed the diagnosis of hepatic echinococcosis. PCR analysis of the liver identified Echinococcus multilocularis, the so called "small fox tapeworm". The infection, reportable in Germany, is an important zoonotic disease that is transmitted by accidentally ingested tapeworm eggs shed by foxes or dogs. The prevalence between 7.6% and 16.7% in the fox population of Brandenburg is significantly lower than in the endemic regions of South and Southwest Germany, however, it is suspected to increase. This underlines the importance of a regional monitoring in domestic animals living in close contact to humans. In this regard, especially dogs should be taken into consideration as a potential definitive host and source of infection for people.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24199383/