Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Spirocerca lupi worm infection causing unusual problems in dogs
By Harrus, S et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·1996·Small Animal Internal Medicine Department·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Spirocerca lupi infection in the dog: aberrant migration.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog infected with the parasite Spirocerca lupi showed unusual symptoms due to the worm migrating to unexpected areas in the body. This caused problems not just in the esophagus but also in the heart and lungs, leading to gastrointestinal and respiratory issues. In two specific cases, the worm caused a hole between the aorta and pulmonary artery and also created an abscess under the skin in the chest area. Treatment for these infections typically involves addressing the symptoms and managing the parasite, but the specific outcomes for these cases weren't detailed.
People also search for: dog esophagus problems · Spirocerca lupi infection treatment · dog respiratory issues · dog heart problems from parasites
Abstract
The nematode Spirocerca lupi (S. lupi), a parasite of dogs and other carnivores, affects mainly the esophagus and the aorta leading to gastrointestinal, respiratory, and circulatory signs. Aberrant migration of the worm to unusual anatomical structures, especially the thoracic cavity, resulting in atypical clinical signs is being reported more frequently. Aberrant migration of S. lupi is reviewed, and two such cases (i.e., migration to the heart, causing an aortico-pulmonary "window-like" opening, and to a subcutaneous abscess in the caudal thoracic region) are presented.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8680918/