title: Spirocercosis in dogs in Israel: A retrospective case-control study (2004-2009).
abstract: This case-control retrospective study (years 2004-2009) investigated the epidemiological, clinical, and diagnostic test findings of dogs with esophageal spirocercosis (ES) presented to the Hebrew University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (HUVTH) and coproscopy-positive dogs at the Kimron Veterinary Institute (KVI), Israel. It included 133 dogs with ES and 133 negative controls diagnosed at the hospital, and 343 dogs diagnosed at the KVI. The average incidence of ES at the HUVTH was 22.5/year, and the percentage of spirocercosis cases was stable at both institutions (HUVTH, 0.67-1.23%; KVI, 5-8%). Dogs aged > 5 years old had 100-fold likelihood to be infected compared to dogs aged ≤ 1 year of age (P < 0.001). Mean body weight (P = 0.0004), proportion of Retrievers (P = 0.002) and sporting breed dogs (P = 0.006) were higher, while proportion of toy breeds (P = 0.004) was lower in the ES group compared to the control group. The proportion of cases from Greater Tel-Aviv decreased (P = 0.002), while that of those from Judea and Jerusalem increased (P = 0.01) compared to the 1990 s. Spirocercosis occurred in 22 dogs despite past prophylactic avermectin treatment. Vomiting and regurgitation were the most common clinical signs of ES. Coproscopy was S. lupi-positive in 33/60 dogs (55.0%). The median number of esophageal nodules was two (range 1-8), with a median diameter of 3.5 cm (range 1.0-11.0). Malignant esophageal lesion transformation was confirmed in 29 dogs (22%). Despite preventive attempts, spirocercosis has spread in Israel over time, compared to previous findings, raising questions about the efficacy of the currently accepted prophylactic protocol is incompletely effective.
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 761001, Israel. Electronic address: itamar.aroch@mail.huji.ac.il.
authors.forename: Itamar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aroch
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 12, Bet Dagan, 5020000, Israel.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Markovics
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 761001, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazaki-Tovi
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 761001, Israel.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuzi
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 761001, Israel.
authors.forename: Shimon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harrus
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 761001, Israel.
authors.forename: Einat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yas
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 761001, Israel.
authors.forename: Gad
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baneth
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 761001, Israel.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bar-El
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 761001, Israel.
authors.forename: Tali
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bdolah-Abram
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 761001, Israel.
authors.forename: Gilad
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Segev
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 761001, Israel.
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lavy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D004285:Dogs; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017205:Spirurida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D013802:Thelazioidea
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D007559:Ivermectin; C084101:doramectin
keywords: Doramectin; Endoscopy; Esophageal neoplasia; Ivermectin; Spirocerca lupi