Spirocerca Lupi Flashcards
Name the Superfamily, Genus Species, and Common Name.
Superfamily: Spiruroidea Genus Species: Spirocerca Lupi Common Name: Esophageal Worm
What is the parasite rating of Spirocerca Lupi?
Rating 1
What are the final hosts of Spirocerca Lupi?
Dogs, wolves, coyotes, foxes, etc
What are the intermediate hosts of Spirocerca Lupi?
Dung Beetles
What are the paratenic hosts of Spirocerca Lupi?
Chickens, birds, lizards
What are the characteristic features of identifying Adult Spirocerca Lupi? What about the eggs?
Adults: Pink to red in color and up to 8cm long Eggs: Small and elongated containing L1 (30-35 micrometers)
What do Spirocerca Lupi cause in the esophagus?
Large lesions (granulomas) in esophagus, can be size of golf ball
Is the life cycle direct or indirect for Spirocerca Lupi?
Indirect :)
List all stages (life cycle) of Spirocerca Lupi.
Egg with L1 is passed in feces or vomitus -> Egg is ingested by intermediate host (dung beetle) and hatches in which L1 develops into L3 and encysts -> Dung beetle with L3 can be eaten by paratenic host in which the paratenic host will become infected -> L3 encysts in the viscera of these hosts -> Final host ingests intermediate or paratenic host -> L3 is liberated, penetrates stomach wall, and migrates via celiac artery to thoracic aorta -> 3 months later they cross to esophagus and provoke granulomas and develop to adults in a further 3 months.
What is the PPP (pre-patent period) for Spirocerca Lupi?
6 months
What happens if granulomas don’t have openings into the esophageal lumen?
Eggs will not be laid in the ingesta and found on fecal flotation.
Name the sites of infection for the Adult Spirocerca Lupi.
Adults are embedded within granulomatous nodules in esophagus and stomach.
Name the site of infection for the larvae of Spirocerca Lupi.
Larvae cause lesions in wall of the aorta.
List the pathogenesis and lesions of Spirocerca Lupi.
- Migrating larvae scar internal wall of the aorta, which can rupture. 2. Development of osteosarcoma. 3. Spondylosis of the thoracic vertebrae or Osteopathy of long bones, both of which are rare.
What are the clinical signs of Spirocerca Lupi?
Esophageal lesions interfere with swallowing and cause persistent regurgitation.
List the ways that Spirocerca Lupi is diagnosed?
- Eggs in the feces or vomitus and can be examined through fecal flotation (Sodium Nitrate). 2. Endoscopy or radiography
What is the treatment/prevention for Spirocerca Lupi?
Macrocyclic Lactones (MCL) are used extra-label
Is there a registered treatment for Spirocerca Lupi?
No, this is a rare parasite in the United States
Adult Spirocerca Lupi and a granuloma in the esophagus.
What is this image showing?
Spirocerca Egg containing larvae. Remember they resemble a paperclip.
What is this image showing?
A sarcoma that has developed in the esophagus of a dog infected with Spirocerca Lupi.
A dog infected with Spirocerca Lupi is most likely to develop:
a. Diarrhea
b. Anemia
c. Dysphagia
d. Pulmonary insufficiency
e. Right heart failure
C. Dysphagia
List the type of hosts for the Spirocerca Lupi life cycle.
Intermediate, paratenic, final host
List the common sites of infection in the dog caused by Spirocerca Lupi.
Esophagus (adults)
Why are eggs not found in the feces of some animals infected with Spirocerca Lupi?
Many reasons: Long PPP, eggs are in the nodules and aren’t being released, nematodes might not be sexually active
