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Adult Dirofilaria repens in a subcutaneous granuloma on the chest of a dog
Author(s) -
Bredal W. P.,
Gjerde B.,
Eberhard M. L.,
Aleksandersen M.,
Wilhelmsen D. K.,
Mansfield L. S.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-5827.1998.tb03715.x
Subject(s) - dirofilaria repens , medicine , dirofilariasis , repens , dirofilaria immitis , veterinary medicine , parasitic disease , dirofilaria , nodule (geology) , larva migrans , helminths , helminthiasis , pathology , disease , biology , immunology , paleontology , botany
A 10‐year‐old, 9 kg, intact male crossbred dog was treated for nasal mites with milbemycin oxime using a dose of 1 mg/kg bodyweight orally, three times at 10‐day intervals. One month after the initiation of this treatment a subcutaneous nodule developed on the sternum of the dog. The nodule was removed and found to contain a single, 82 mm long, thread‐like nematode. Several exotic parasites were suspected as possibilities because the dog had been imported to Norway from South Africa. Microfilariae were not detected in the blood and heartworm antigen tests were negative. The worm was identified morphologically as an adult, female Dirofilaria repens. This is the first report of D repens from Norway. The case is of interest because of the differential diagnostic problem it posed and because infestation was recognised following treatment of another parasitic condition with a broad‐spectrum, antiparasitic drug. In addition, the case provides a reminder of the necessity to be aware of geographical differences in disease occurrence which can produce unexpected disease in non‐endemic areas as a consequence of increased international travel with pets.