Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Severe mite infestation causing vomiting and weakness in hunting dogs
By Areso Apesteguía, M et al.·Published in Journal of medical entomology·2019·Clí, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Severe Trombiculiasis in Hunting Dogs Infested With Neotrombicula inopinata (Acari: Trombiculidae).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Nine hunting dogs were brought to the vet after showing serious symptoms like vomiting, weakness, lethargy, and diarrhea, following a trip to a natural park where they were likely infested with mites. The dogs were found to have been affected by a specific type of mite called Neotrombicula inopinata, which is known to cause systemic illness in dogs. This condition can be very serious and potentially fatal, especially with a heavy infestation. Treatment details weren't specified, but recognizing the symptoms early is crucial for recovery.
People also search for: dog vomiting weakness after hiking · hunting dog mite infestation · symptoms of trombiculiasis in dogs
Abstract
This study records the clinical findings in nine hunting dogs showing systemic illness associated with trombiculids and identifies the mite species involved. In fall, coinciding with the seasonality of mites, all dogs were infested with mites and had been in the risk area (Sierra Cebollera Natural Park, La Rioja, Spain) a few hours before the onset of symptoms. The symptoms included vomiting, anorexia, weakness and lethargy, diarrhea, and even stupor. The clinical picture was fast-acting and potentially fatal. The infestations varied from low to severe. Molecular analysis of mites that fed on the dogs confirmed that they were larvae of Neotrombicula inopinata (Oudemans, Acari, Trombiculidae). This is the first time that N. inopinata has been identified as feeding on dogs and implicated in canine systemic illness associated with trombiculids. In contrast to other chiggers, N. inopinata does not seem to cause dermatitis. Likewise, the clinical and epidemiological similarity between the clinical symptoms we describe herein and the occurrence of seasonal canine illness (SCI) led us to suspect that this illness may be caused by infestation with these mites. The condition could be the consequence of severe infestation from large numbers of feeding mites, especially N. inopinata. Whether or not the cases were due to a severe allergic host response to salivary proteins or the result of the transmission of a new or emerging trombiculid-borne pathogen is not known.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31120536/