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NAVLE® Question of the day

MO TU WED TH FR

November 29, 2023

NAVLE

During the necropsy of an eight-year-old mixed breed dog from the Southern United States, reactive granulomas in the esophagus containing bright red worms, 40 mm to 70 mm long are found.

Which choice is the most likely diagnosis?

A - Physaloptera spp.

B - Gastrophilus spp.

C - Spirocerca lupi

D - Haemonchus placei

E - Ollulanus tricuspis

Bodacious! You chose C - Spirocerca lupi

A disease of dogs in the Southern U.S. and tropical climates, Spirocerca lupi (esophageal worms) make reactive granulomas of variable size in the esophageal, gastric or aortic walls.

Spirocercosis may also lead to aneurysm in the thoracic aorta or an ossifying spondylitis of the posterior thoracic vertebrae.

Typically asymptomatic, but large granulomas can cause esophageal obstruction.

Large granulomas may become neoplastic (osteosarcoma, fibrosarcoma).

Some dogs develop spondylitis or enlargement of the extremities characteristic of hypertrophic osteopathy.

All of the other choices are gastric parasites.
Ollulanus tricuspis is an uncommon gastric parasite of cats.
Physaloptera spp. is a stomach worm that may cause vomiting, anorexia, dark feces in dogs and cats.
Haemonchus spp., Ostertagia spp. and Trichostrongylus spp. are found in the abomasum of ruminants.
Gasterophilus spp. are the larvae of horse bot flies, found in the stomach of horses.