Clinical, cytological and molecular evidence of Mesocestoides sp. infection in a dog from Italy

J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med. 2004 Dec;51(9-10):435-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.2004.00664.x.

Abstract

A 12-year-old, 13 kg, mixed-breed male dog was referred for anorexia and depression. The dog showed discomfort on abdominal palpation. Abdominal ultrasound examination revealed multiple, small, round anechoic cystic structures. Cystic fluid obtained with fine needle aspiration contained several 2-4 mm white motile flecks. Microscopic examination of the fluid revealed numerous irregularly shaped organisms measuring several hundred microns to 3 mm, the morphology of which was suggestive of intact and fragmented acephalic metacestodes of the genus Mesocestoides sp. Molecular analysis confirmed that the peritoneal infection was caused by Mesocestoides sp.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticestodal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Ascitic Fluid / parasitology
  • Ascitic Fluid / pathology
  • Cestode Infections / diagnosis
  • Cestode Infections / drug therapy
  • Cestode Infections / pathology
  • Cestode Infections / veterinary*
  • Cytodiagnosis / veterinary
  • Dog Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Dog Diseases / drug therapy
  • Dog Diseases / parasitology
  • Dog Diseases / pathology
  • Dogs
  • Fenbendazole / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Mesocestoides / isolation & purification*
  • Peritoneal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Peritoneal Diseases / drug therapy
  • Peritoneal Diseases / parasitology
  • Peritoneal Diseases / veterinary*

Substances

  • Anticestodal Agents
  • Fenbendazole