Abstract
Nasal eucoleosis is an uncommonly diagnosed parasitic infection in domestic dogs. Depending on the parasite load, dogs with Eucoleus boehmi may exhibit mild upper respiratory signs such as sneezing and nasal discharge or may not exhibit any clinical signs. The present study describes the case of a 6-year-old male dog, presented with reverse sneezing of 2 months’ duration and bilateral nasal serous discharge. The patient had been taking prednisolone for years due to an immune mediated arthritis of the carpal joint. Physical examination, complete blood count, serum chemistry and thoracic radiography were unremarkable. A computed tomography scan of the nasal cavity was compatible with bilateral chronic rhinitis of unknown aetiology. Further investigation by rhinoscopy revealed diffuse erythematous mucosae with several white and serpentine-shaped worms on the turbinates’ surface. Morphological identification of the worms collected in situ was performed, revealing filiform nematodes (15–30 mm in length) containing several bipolar plugged and barrel-shaped eggs in their medial segment. The eggs contained a multicellular embryo, a pitted surface and measured 54–60 μm long by 30–35 μm wide. Morphological and morphometric characteristics were consistent with E. boehmi. Treatment with imidacloprid/moxidectin spot-on formulation along with preventing measures to minimise reinfection were prescribed and successfully achieved, as confirmed by negative faecal examinations. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this represents the first report of E. boehmi infection in a dog from Portugal. Nasal eucoleosis appears to be underestimated and should be considered as a differential diagnosis in canids suffering from upper respiratory distress.
Abbreviations
- CBC:
-
complete blood count
- PO:
-
per os
- CT scan:
-
computed tomography scan
- s.g.:
-
specific gravity
References
Al-Sabi MN, Kapel CM (2013) First report of Eucoleus boehmi in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Denmark based on coprological examination. Acta Parasitol 58(4):570–6
Baan M, Kidder AC, Johnson SE, Sherding RG (2011) Rhinoscopic diagnosis of Eucoleus boehmi infection in a dog. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 47(1):60–3
Blagburn BL, Lindsay DS, Vaughan JL (1996) Prevalence of canine parasites based on fecal flotation. Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet 18:483–509
Burgess H, Ruotsalo K, Peregrine AS, Hanselman B, Abrams-Ogg A (2008) Eucoleus aerophilus respiratory infection in a dog with Addison’s disease. Can Vet J 49(4):389–92
Campbell BG (1991) Trichuris and other trichinelloid nematodes of dogs and cats in the United States. Compend Cont Educ Pract Vet 13(5):769–778
Campbell BG, Little MD (1991) Identification of the eggs of a nematode (Eucoleus boehmi) from the nasal mucosa of North American dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 198(9):1520–1523
Clark AC, López FR, Levine JM, Cooper JJ, Craig TM, Voges AK, Johnson MC, Porter BF (2013) Intracranial migration of Eucoleus (Capillaria) boehmi in a dog. J Small Anim Pract 54(2):99–103
Conboy G (2009) Helminth parasites of the canine and feline respiratory tract. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 39(6):1109–26, vii
Davidson RK, Gjerde B, Vikøren T, Lillehaug A, Handeland KM (2006) Prevalence of Trichinella larvae and extra-intestinal nematodes in Norwegian red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Vet Parasitol 136:307–316
De Liberato C, Mazzanti S, Scaramozzino P (2009) First report of Eucoleus boehmi (Nematoda Trichuridea) from Italy: parasitological findings and veterinary implications. Parassitologia 51:43–45
Di Cesare A, Castagna G, Meloni S, Otranto D, Traversa D (2012) Mixed trichuroid infestation in a dog from Italy. Parasit Vectors 5:128
Di Cesare A, Veronesi F, Frangipane di Regalbono A, De Liberato C, Perrucci S, Iorio R, Morganti G, Marangi M, Simonato G, Traversa D (2015) PCR-based assay for the mitochondrial cox1 specific amplification of Eucoleus böhmi. Vet Parasitol 211(1–2):67–70
Evinger JV, Kazacos KR, Cantwell HD (1985) Ivermectin for treatment of nasal capillariasis in a dog. J Am Vet Med Assoc 186(2):174–5
Gajewska A, Gorski P, Kotomski G, Bogdanowicz M, Klockiewicz M, Kazimierczak K (2004) Changes in parasites of dogs and cats from Warsaw and suburbs during the period of 1974–2002. Part III. Roundworms. Zycie Weterynaryjne 79:208–212 (in Polish)
Gibbons, LM (2010) Keys to the nematode parasites of vertebrates. Supplementary volume. CAB International, Wallingford (UK), 416 ISBN-13: 978-1-84593-571-9
González PJ, Taba E, González G, Guendulain C, Pérez Tort G (2014) Primera comunicación de la parasitación de un canino con Eucoleus boehmi en Argentina. REDVET 15:6
Guardone L, Macchioni F, Mignone W, Prati MC, Monni G, Magi M (2012) Cardiopulmonary parasites of red foxes and dogs from Liguria, Northwest Italy. Mappe Parassitologiche 18:304 (abstract)
Hinaidy HK (1971) Die Parasitenfauna des Rotfuchses, Vulpes vulpes (L.), in Oesterreich. Zbl Vet Med B 18:21–32
Lalošević V, Lalošević D, Capo I, Simin V, Galfi A, Traversa D (2013) High infection rate of zoonotic Eucoleus aerophilus infection in foxes from Serbia. Parasite 20:3
Magi M, Guardone L, Prati MC, Mignone W, Macchioni F (2015) Extraintestinal nematodes of the red fox Vulpes vulpes in north-west Italy. J Helm 89(4):506–511
Magi M, Guardone L, Prati MC, Torracca B, Macchioni F (2012) First report of Eucoleus boehmi (syn. Capillaria boehmi) in dogs in north-western Italy, with scanning electron microscopy of the eggs. Parasite 19(4):433–5
Mariacher A, Eleni C, Fico R, Ciarrocca E, Perrucci S (2015) Pearsonema plica and Eucoleus böhmi infections and associated lesions in wolves (Canis lupus) from Italy. Helminthologia 52:364–369
Schöffel I, Schein E, Wittstadt U, Hentsche J (1991) Zur Parasitenfauna des Rotfuchsen in Berlin (West). Berliner und Muencher Tieraerztliche Wochenschrift 104:153–157
Schoning P, Dryden MW, Gabbert NH (1993) Identification of a nasal nematode (Eucoleus boehmi) in greyhounds. Vet Res Commun 17(4):277–81
Sréter T, Széll Z, Marucci G, Pozio E, Varga I (2003) Extraintestinal nematode infections of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Hungary. Vet Parasitol 115:329–334
Supperer R (1953) Capillaria böhmi spec. nov., eine neue haarwurmart aus den stirnhöhlen des fuchses (in German). Parasitol Res 16:51–55
Traversa D, Di Cesare A, Conboy G (2010) Canine and feline cardiopulmonary parasitic nematodes in Europe: emerging and underestimated. Parasit Vectors 3:62
Veronesi F, Lepri E, Morganti G, Di Palma S, Mechelli L, Moretti A, Traversa D (2013) Nasal eucoleosis in a symptomatic dog from Italy. Vet Parasitol 195(1–2):187–91
Veronesi F, Morganti G, di Cesare A, Lepri E, Cassini R, Zanet S, Deni D, Chiari M, Ferroglio E (2014a) Eucoleus boehmi infection in red fox (Vulpes vulpes) from Italy. Vet Parasitol 206(3–4):232–9
Veronesi F, Morganti G, Di Cesare A, Schaper R, Traversa D (2014b) A pilot trial evaluating the efficacy of a 10% imidacloprid/2.5% moxidectin spot-on formulation in the treatment of natural nasal capillariosis in dogs. Vet Parasitol 200(1–2):133–8
Zarnowski E, Patyk W (1960) On the independence of the species Thominx böhmi (Supperer 1953) and its occurrence. Acta Parasitol Pol 8:205–214
Acknowledgments
CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ULisboa, Reference UID/CVT/00276/2013.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Alho, A.M., Mouro, S., Pissarra, H. et al. First report of Eucoleus boehmi infection in a dog from Portugal. Parasitol Res 115, 1721–1725 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-016-4932-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-016-4932-6