Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Increasing Strongyloides stercoralis infections in imported Swiss dogs
By Schnyder, M et al.·Published in Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde·2022·Institute of Parasitology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Strongyloides stercoralis in Swiss dogs - a retrospective study suggests an increasing occurrence of this potentially zoonotic parasite as a consequence of dog imports.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 20 dogs in Switzerland, mostly young Chihuahuas, French Bulldogs, and Pomeranians, were diagnosed with a parasitic infection called Strongyloides stercoralis, which can also affect humans. The most common symptom was diarrhea, but some dogs also experienced vomiting, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Many of these dogs had been imported from Eastern Europe or the Mediterranean region. Treatment with fenbendazole or ivermectin was effective, leading to recovery in the dogs that were followed up after treatment. Pet owners should be aware of this parasite, especially if their dog shows gastrointestinal or respiratory issues.
People also search for: dog diarrhea treatment · coughing in puppies · Strongyloides stercoralis in dogs · imported dog health issues · dog vomiting and diarrhea causes
Abstract
Strongyloides stercoralis is a worldwide occurring nematode infecting canids and primates (including humans), responsible for a largely underestimated zoonotic disease. We here present 18 cases including overall 20 dogs affected by S. stercoralis, diagnosed in Switzerland between 2010 and 2020. The Baermann examination was positive for S. stercoralis larvae in 10, suspicious in 4, negative in one and not performed in 2 dogs. In 3 dogs the infection was identified only at necropsy by histology or by direct faecal or mucosal smears from intestinal tissue. Confirmation of suspected, necropsied and Baermann-negative dogs relied on genetic analyses. Twelve dogs had a history of import from Eastern Europe (n=4), the Mediterranean basin (n=5) or Germany (n=3). They were 7 weeks to 9,5 months old, and also the dogs supposedly born in Switzerland were younger than one year (except two, aged 15 months and 14 years). Thirteen dogs were males and 6 females (1 unknown). The most represented breeds were Chihuahuas (n=5), French Bulldogs (n=4) and Pomeranians (n=3). The most frequent clinical sign and reason for presentation was diarrhoea, occurring in 11/20 animals. Further gastrointestinal symptoms were vomiting, anorexia/hyporexia, adipsia, dehydration, tense abdomen and tenesmus. Respiratory symptoms were the second most frequent, with coughing in 7/20 animals, followed by tachypnoea/dyspnoea in 5 and (reverse) sneezing in 3 dogs. Treatment with 50 mg/kg BW fenbendazole p.o. over 5 days was successful in 4 cases in which a follow-up examination was performed 3-6 weeks later; prolonged treatment over 21 days was also effective. Ivermectin off-label protocols described in the literature, e.g. 0,8 mg/kg BW s.c. or 0,5 mg/kg BW i.m. repeated after 2 weeks, were successful based on control examinations performed 3-10 weeks later. Strongyloides stercoralis infections are clinically relevant, potentially zoonotic and need to be included in differential diagnoses in case of canine gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders, especially in young and imported dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34983743/