Clinical signs and clinicopathologic abnormalities in dogs with clinical spirocercosis: 39 cases (1996-2004).
OBJECTIVE
To determine clinical signs and clinicopathologic abnormalities in dogs with naturally occurring clinical spirocercosis.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
39 dogs with spirocercosis.


METHODS
Medical records were reviewed, and information on signalment, residence (rural vs urban), owner complaints, physical examination findings, clinicopathologic abnormalities, radiographic and endoscopic findings, and concurrent systemic diseases was recorded.


RESULTS
Hellenic hounds and mixed-breed dogs were overrepresented, compared with a group of 117 control dogs without spirocercosis that were examined because of gastrointestinal tract disease, and mean body weight of dogs with spirocercosis was significantly higher than mean body weight of control dogs. Odynophagia (34 [87%]), regurgitation (24 [62%]), and excessive salivation (14 [36%]) were the most common clinical findings. The most common radiographic abnormalities were a mass in the caudodorsal aspect of the mediastinum (15/35 [43%]) and spondylitis of the caudal thoracic vertebrae (10 [29%]). Parasitic nodules were seen during esophagoscopy in all 39 dogs. Normocytic, normochromic, nonregenerative anemia; neutrophilic leukocytosis; hyperproteinemia; and high alkaline phosphatase activity were significantly more common in dogs with spirocercosis than in a control group of 56 healthy dogs. Concurrent systemic diseases, mainly leishmaniosis, dirofilariosis, and monocytic ehrlichiosis, were documented in 14 (36%) dogs.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that clinical spirocercosis occurs more often in young-adult, large-breed dogs. Nonregenerative anemia, neutrophilic leukocytosis, hyperproteinemia, and high alkaline phosphatase activity may be useful clinicopathologic indicators of this disease.
Companion Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Mathios E
ME
Mylonakis
Tim
T
Rallis
Alexander F
AF
Koutinas
Leonidas S
LS
Leontides
Michail
M
Patsikas
Marianna
M
Florou
Elias
E
Papadopoulos
Anna
A
Fytianou
D000367:Age Factors; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight; D001947:Breeding; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D017205:Spirurida Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013802:Thelazioidea / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014505:Urban Population
D001798:Blood Proteins; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase