Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Kidney worm infection found in 35% of dogs near Rio de La Plata
By Radman, Nilda Ester et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports·2017·Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Occurrence of dioctophymosis in canines within a riparian zone of the Río de La Plata watercourse, in Ensenada, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 244 out of 692 dogs in a river area of Argentina were diagnosed with dioctophymosis, a parasitic infection caused by the "giant kidney worm." Symptoms can vary, but the infection was detected through ultrasound, urine tests, and sometimes surgery. The dogs affected ranged from just 4 months to 15 years old, and certain activities like swimming in the river or eating frogs and fish increased the risk of infection. Treatment options weren't detailed, but early detection through regular vet check-ups is crucial for managing this condition.
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Abstract
Dioctophymosis is a parasitic disease occasioned by the so-called "giant kidney worm", Dioctophyme renale, a nematode with an indirect life cycle. This parasite's definitive host is the mink, Mustela vison, though numerous wild and domestic mammals as well as man can serve as final hosts. The worms also can be in ectopic locations in the body. We surveyed 692 canines by ecography, urine sampling, surgery, necropsy, and clinical examination and diagnosed 244 cases of dioctophymosis (35.3%). Of the cases of dioctophymosis identified, 30.7% were obtained by ecography, 45.9% by urinalysis, and 17.6% by both those techniques -in addition to positive findings through surgery (2.5%), necropsy (2.5%), and the spontaneous elimination of the parasites (0.8%). Cases of dioctophymosis were observed in animals as young as 4months of age up to 15years. The frequency of D. renale diagnosis throughout the sampling period varied significantly. There was a statistically significant association between risk factors (swimming in the river, eating frogs, fish or eels, drinking ditch water) and the prevalence of infection. It was discussed the period missing after infection in canines.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31014597/