Abstract
A 7-years-old intact female mixed breed dog was referred to the private veterinary clinic because of history of intense food regurgitation. The plain X-ray examination and the contrast-enhanced X-ray using barium sulfate revealed the presence of a radio-opaque mass in the final third of the esophagus. Stool samples were collected and the coproparasitological test was done, which showed thick-shelled eggs from Spirocerca lupi. As the canine died, the necropsy was performed, showing nodular lesions in the esophagus, compatible with the typical lesions of spirocercosis. The histopathological analysis showed the proliferation of spindle-shaped cells, process compatible with fibrosarcoma. This is the first official report of the presence of canine spirocercosis in Guapimirim city, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and can serve as a warning to veterinary practitioners, about this probably endemic region for S. lupi.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Bailey WS (1963) Parasite and cancer: sarcoma in dogs associated with Spirocerca lupi. Ann N Y Acad Sci 108:890–923
Bailey WS (1972) Spirocerca lupi: a continuing inquiry. J Parasitol 58:3–22
Bailey WS, Cabrera DJ, Diamond DL (1963) Beetles of the family Scarabaeidae as intermediate hosts for Spirocerca lupi. J Parasitol 49:485–488
Cabrera DJ, Bailey WS (1964) A modified stoll technique for detecting eggs of Spirocerca lupi. J Am Vet Med Assoc 145:573–575
Dvir E, Kirberger RM, Malleczek D (2001) Radiographic and computed tomographic changes and clinical presentation of spirocercosis in the dog. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 42:119–129
Fox SM, Burns J, Hawkins J (1988) Spirocercosis in dogs. Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet 10:807–822
Gal A, Kleinbart S, Aizenberg Z, Baneth G (2005) Aortic tromboembolism associated with Spirocerca lupi infection. Vet Parasitol 130:331–335
Gosling E, Gracia A (1983) Diagnostico precoz y tratamiento de la spirocercosis (Spirocerca lupi). Vet Trop 8:57–69
Harrus S, Harmelin A, Markovics A, Bark H (1996) Spirocerca lupi in the dog: aberrant migration. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 32:125–130
Jones TC, Hunt RD, King NW (1997) Disturbances of growth: aplasia to neoplasia. In: Jones TC, Hunt RD, King NW (eds) Veterinary pathology, 6th edn. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 110–112
Markovics A, Medinski B (1996) Improved diagnosis of low intensity Spirocerca lupi infection by the sugar flotation method. J Vet Diagn Invest 8:400–401
Mense MG, Gardiner CH, Moeller RB, Partridge HL, Wilson S (1992) Chronic emesis caused by a nematode induced gastric nodule in a cat. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 201:597–598
Ranen E, Lavy E, Aizenberg I, Perl S, Harrus S (2004) Spirocercosis-associated esophageal sarcomas in dogs. A retrospective study of 17 cases (1997–2003). Vet Parasitol 119:209–221
Ridgway RL, Suter PF (1979) Clinical and radiographic signs in primary and metastatic oesophageal neoplasms of the dog. J Am Vet Med Assoc 174:700–704
Rudolphi CA (1819) Entozoorum synopsis cui accedunt mantissa duplex et indices locupletissimi. Sumptibus Augusti Rücker. Berolini, 811 p
Santos ASO, Silveira LS, Lemos LS, Moreira L, Silva AC, Carvalho ECQ, Matos WR (2004) Aneurismas aórticos pela espirocercose canina em Brasília (relato de caso). Rev Bras Saúde Prod Anim 5:25–30
van der Merwe LL, Kirberger RM, Clift S, Williams M, Keller N, Naidoo V (2008) Spirocerca lupi infection in the dog: a review. Vet J 176:294–309
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Da Fonseca, E.J., Do Amarante, E.E.V.G., de S. Abboud, L.C. et al. Fatal esophageal fibrosarcoma associated to parasitism by spirurid nematode Spirocerca lupi in a dog: a case report. J Parasit Dis 36, 273–276 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-012-0108-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-012-0108-1