Diagnostic procedures and treatment of eleven dogs with peritoneal infections caused by Mesocestoides spp.
An 8-year-old spayed Schnauzer with a distended abdomen was examined because of straining to urinate and suspected urinary tract infection. Abdominal radiography revealed a ground-glass appearance, and ultrasonography revealed numerous cystic structures in the peritoneal cavity. Examination of an aspirate of abdominal fluid revealed tissues consistent with metacestodes. Tissues were definitively identified as Mesocestoides spp on the basis of polymerase chain reaction amplification of restriction fragment length polymorphisms. The dog required several courses of treatment with fenbendazole to eliminate the infection. This was 1 of 11 dogs infected with Mesocestoides metacestodes. Treatment involving the use of praziquantel and albendazole were ineffective, but fenbendazole successfully cleared Mesocestoides infections in 5 of 6 dogs.
Crosbie
P R
PR
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616-8739, USA.
Boyce
W M
WM
Platzer
E G
EG
Nadler
S A
SA
Kerner
C
C
D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000923:Anticestodal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002590:Cestode Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000032:analysis; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005273:Fenbendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008645:Mesocestoides / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000923:Anticestodal Agents; D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D018509:DNA, Helminth; D005273:Fenbendazole; D011223:Praziquantel; D015766:Albendazole