title: Molecular diagnosis of sparganosis associated with pneumothorax in a dog.
abstract: Pneumothorax was diagnosed in a dog presenting with progressive exercise intolerance and tachypnoea. Needle thoracocentesis failed to resolve the pneumothorax, and an exploratomy thoracotomy was performed. Upon inspection of the thoracic cavity, numerous white nodules (2 to 4mm) were present throughout the mediastinum, parietal pleura and the lung lobes. The owners of the dog elected intra-operative euthanasia, and a post mortem examination was performed. At necropsy, structures consistent with the plerocercoid (larval) stage of a tapeworm were identified in association with inflammation of the pleural cavity. Molecular methods were used to identify the parasite as Spirometra erinacei. Molecular diagnosis, along with the clinical presentation and pathological findings, allowed the diagnosis of proliferative sparganosis.
authors: Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia. simc@unimelb.edu.au
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Simpson
authors: Abdul
authors: A
authors: Jabbar
authors: Caroline S
authors: CS
authors: Mansfield
authors: Dayle
authors: D
authors: Tyrrell
authors: Emma
authors: E
authors: Croser
authors: Linda A
authors: LA
authors: Abraham
authors: Robin B
authors: RB
authors: Gasser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000469:parasitology; D010994:Pleura / Q000469:parasitology; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D011859:Radiography; D013031:Sparganosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D013146:Spirometra / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*