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GASTRIC NODULE CAUSED BY SPIROCERCA LUPI IN A RED FOX (VULPES VULPES)

A. Diakou1, E. Karamanavi2, E. Kaldrimidou2

Key words: Spirocerca, gastric, nodule, Vulpes vulpes

1 Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, 2 Clinic of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle Univercity of Thessaloniki, Greece
5th International Congress on Wild Fauna, 22-27 September 2007, Chalkidiki Greece, Proceedings, pg 33


Introduction. Spirocerca lupi is a parasitic nematode that predominantly occurs in Canidae. It has a worldwide distribution, but is more prevalent in warm climates. Adult worms are found in granulomatous nodules formed mainly in the oesophagus and in other sites including the stomach, the aorta, the intestine etc., where they deposit embryonated eggs, which pass into the gastrointestinal lumen through small fistulous tracts. Various species of arthropods mainly beetles serve as intermediate hosts and a great variety of animals such as reptiles, birds and small mammals as paratenic hosts. Spirocercosis is usually subclinical, but may also be the cause of oesophageal/stomach granulomas and sarcomas, aortic scarring and aneurysms, thoracic discospondylitis/spondylosis, hypertrophic osteopathy and salivary gland necrosis.
Materials, methods and results. An adult red fox (Vulpes vulpes) was brought post mortem for an autopsy to the necropsy room. On the gastric wall (fundus) a nodule, 2 x 3 cm in size, was observed. The nodule was a thick-walled cystic granuloma in the submucosa of the gastric wall, bearing a number of nematodes. The cause of death of the fox was however determined as poisoning probably due to consumption of a poisoned bird. The nodule was examined in the Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases for the identification of the parasites. The worms removed from the nodule were bright red, relatively thick nematodes, surrounded by six lobes. The hind end of the male was spirally coiled, had lateral allae and papillae and unequal spicules. In the female, the vulva opened close the hind end of the oesophagus and the uterus contained characteristic thick and smooth shelled eggs, 30-37 x 11-154 cm (males) to 7.5 cm (females) long. Their mouth was μm in size. According to their morphology, the parasites were identified as S. lupi. Histologically, the nodule was composed mostly of actively dividing fibroblasts and cyst of parasites surrounded by purulent material. The histological preparations contained incisions of the parasites with the characteristic eggs in the uterus of the female nematodes.
Discussion and Conclusions. In Greece, S. lupi was reported in 2-24% of the dogs but not in wild carnivores. This is the first case of a gastric nodule caused by S. lupi in a fox in Greece. Parasites such as S. lupi that can be both found in domesticated and wild animals are of particular epidemiological significance since cross infection between the two animal groups is possible.


References
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  2. Jubb KVF, Kennedy PC, Palmer N. 1993. Pathology of Domestic Animals. Vol 2, 4rth ed. Academic Press INC. London UK.
  3. Mense MG Gardiner CH, Moeller RB, Partridge HL, Wilson S. 1992. Chronic emesis caused by a nematode-induced gastric nodule in a cat. JAVMA 201:597-598
  4. Papadopoulos H, Himonas C, Papazahariadou M, Antoniadou-Sotiriadou K. 1997. Helminths of foxes and other wild carnivores from rural areas in Greece. J Helminthol 71:227-31
  5. Soulsby EJL. 1982. Helminths, Arthropods and Protozoa of Domesticated Animals. 8th ed. Baillières, Tindall and Cassell. London UK

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