Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with Cushing's syndrome and subcutaneous Taenia cysts
By Nolte, A et al.·Published in Tierarztliche Praxis. Ausgabe K, Kleintiere/Heimtiere·2016·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: [Subcutaneous Taenia crassiceps-cysticercosis in a dog with Cushing's syndrome].
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old male Cairn terrier with Cushing's syndrome developed two painful lumps under his skin that didn't respond to treatment. Upon examination, the vet found cysts that were later identified as a type of tapeworm larva, which can infect dogs after they ingest eggs from contaminated sources. The dog's weakened immune system from Cushing's syndrome likely contributed to the infection. Treatment details weren't specified, but addressing the underlying Cushing's syndrome and managing the cysts would be important for recovery.
People also search for: dog lumps under skin · Cairn terrier Cushing's syndrome treatment · tapeworm infection in dogs
Abstract
A male, 12-year-old Cairn terrier suffering from Cushing's syndrome with two therapy-resistant inflammatory subcutaneous lesions was examined pathomorphologically and parasitologically. Within the subcutaneous tissue, there was a suppurative to necrotizing and histiocytic inflammation present with the formation of caverns. Intralesional whitish-grey cysts with a diameter of 1-4 mm were detected. Molecular investigations of the cysts confirmed the preliminary morphological identification as Cysticercus longicollis. The adenohypophysis showed an infiltrative growing carcinoma. Cysticercus longicollis is the metacestode of Taenia (T.) crassiceps, a tapeworm of foxes and coyotes. Small rodents are typical intermediate hosts, in which the metacestode develops within the body cavities as well as in the subcutis. Subcutaneous cysticercosis after infection with eggs of T. crassiceps is also described in different domestic animal species and in humans, who represent aberrant intermediate hosts. Immunosuppression due to Cushing's syndrome, probably caused by the tumor of the adenohypophysis, may have played a role in the pathogenesis of the present case.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26763526/