Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Female Bernese dog with breast lump caused by dirofilariasis worm
By Manuali, E et al.·Published in Diagnostic cytopathology·2005·Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche via G. Salvemini, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Unusual finding in a nipple discharge of a female dog: dirofilariasis of the breast.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 6-year-old female Bernese dog was brought to the vet because of a lump in her breast. Tests on the fluid from the nipple showed unusual findings, including some roundworms and inflammatory cells, which led to a diagnosis of dirofilariasis (a type of parasitic infection) in the breast. This condition can mimic more serious issues like breast cancer. The dog received treatment for the infection, and the lump was managed based on the findings.
People also search for: dog breast lump · Bernese dog nipple discharge · dirofilariasis treatment in dogs
Abstract
We report a case of dirofilariasis of the breast occurring in a 6-yr-old Bernese female dog living in central Italy presenting with a breast lump, diagnosed on cytological examination of nipple secretion fluid smears. The direct smears of nipple discharge revealed clusters of glandular cells characterized by mild pleomorphic appearance and the presence of some nematodes of about 350 microm in length in the background. The smears also contained several inflammatory cells, including eosinophils. Both the Knott and the antigen tests were negative for Dirofilaria immitis. The morphological features of this round worm is compatible with that of Dirofilaria repens. The case describes an unusual finding of dirofilariasis presenting as a breast lump, simulating an inflammatory breast carcinoma.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15637669/