title: Aberrant laryngeal location of Onchocerca lupi in a dog.
abstract: Onchocerca lupi (Spirurida, Onchocercidae) is an emerging vector-borne helminth that causes nodular lesions associated with acute or chronic ocular disease in dogs and cats. Since its first description in dogs in 1991, this zoonotic filarioid has been increasingly reported in Europe and the United States. An 8-year-old outdoor mixed-breed female dog from the Algarve (southern Portugal) was presented with a history of severe dyspnoea. Cervical and thoracic radiographs revealed a slight reduction in the diameter of the cervical trachea and a moderate increase in radiopacity of the laryngeal soft tissue. An exploratory laryngoscopy was performed, revealing filiform worms associated with stenosis of the thyroid cartilage and a purulent necrotic tissue in the larynx lumen. A single sessile nodule, protruding from the dorsal wall of the laryngeal lumen caused a severe reduction of the glottis and tracheal diameter. Fragments of the worms were morphologically and molecularly identified as O. lupi. Histological examination of the nodule showed a granulomatous reaction with sections of coiled gravid female nematodes. Following laryngoscopy, a tracheostomy tube was inserted to relieve dyspnoea and ivermectin (300 μg/kg, once a week, for 8 weeks) combined with prednisolone was prescribed. The dog showed a complete recovery. Although O. lupi has been isolated in human patients from the spinal cord, this is the first report of an aberrant migration of O. lupi in a dog. The veterinary medical community should pay attention to aberrant location of O. lupi and consider onchocercosis as a differential diagnosis for airway obstruction in dogs.
authors.affiliation: CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ULisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: margaridaalho@fmv.ulisboa.pt.
authors.forename: Ana Margarida
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alho
authors.affiliation: Hospital Veterinário das Laranjeiras, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Hospital Veterinário das Laranjeiras, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: Hospital Veterinário das Laranjeiras, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martinho
authors.affiliation: Hospital Veterinário Inemvet, Olhão, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mansinho
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Annoscia
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Lia
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Otranto
authors.affiliation: CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ULisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís Madeira
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007830:Larynx / Q000469:parasitology; D009854:Onchocerca / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011174:Portugal; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D007559:Ivermectin; D011239:Prednisolone
keywords: Aberrant location; Canine onchocercosis; Laryngeal stenosis; Onchocerca lupi; Portugal; Zoonosis