Clinical features and outcome of Heterobilharzia americana infection in dogs. 2010

C Fabrick, and A Bugbee, and G Fosgate
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA. cfabrick@alpenglowvets.com

BACKGROUND Heterobilharzia americana (HA), the causative agent of canine schistosomiasis, is a flatworm with a freshwater snail as an intermediate host. Only case reports or small case series evaluating naturally infected dogs have been published. OBJECTIVE Describe clinical signs in dogs naturally infected with HA. METHODS Twenty-two dogs naturally infected with HA from 1985 to 2009. METHODS Retrospective study. All medical records were searched for HA and schistosomiasis. Only dogs with a diagnosis based on identification of ova on histopathology or fecal saline sedimentation were included. RESULTS The median age was 3.1 years (1-12). The median duration of clinical signs before diagnosis was 0.63 months (0.03-12). The most common clinical signs were lethargy (91%), weight loss (77%), hyporexia (68%), vomiting (59%), and diarrhea (55%). Eleven of the 22 dogs were hypercalcemic. Hypercalcemia did not resolve without definitive treatment with praziquantel. HA infection was an incidental diagnosis in 7/22 dogs. Diagnosis was obtained via necropsy (4), histopathology (9), and fecal examination (9). Definitive treatment included praziquantel and fenbendazole. Eighteen dogs were diagnosed antemortem and 17 were treated. Twelve dogs were alive for 6 months to 3 years after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS HA infection occurs in younger, larger breed, indoor dogs. Hypercalcemia does not resolve without praziquantel treatment. Prognosis is good and neither hypercalcemic-induced renal failure nor ascites appears to worsen prognosis. Dogs in affected areas or that have traveled to affected areas that present for weight loss, gastrointestinal or liver disease, and hypercalcemia, should be tested.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D011223 Praziquantel An anthelmintic used in most schistosome and many cestode infestations. Biltricide,Cesol,Cisticid,Cysticide,Droncit,Drontsit,EMBAY 8440,Prasiquantel,Praziquantel, (+-)-Isomer,Praziquantel, (R)-Isomer,Praziquantel, (S)-Isomer,Pyquiton,Traziquantel
D004283 Dog Diseases Diseases of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). This term does not include diseases of wild dogs, WOLVES; FOXES; and other Canidae for which the heading CARNIVORA is used. Canine Diseases,Canine Disease,Disease, Canine,Disease, Dog,Diseases, Canine,Diseases, Dog,Dog Disease
D004285 Dogs The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065) Canis familiaris,Dog
D005260 Female Females
D005273 Fenbendazole Antinematodal benzimidazole used in veterinary medicine. Panacur,Phenbendasol
D006934 Hypercalcemia Abnormally high level of calcium in the blood. Milk-Alkali Syndrome,Hypercalcemias,Milk Alkali Syndrome,Syndrome, Milk-Alkali
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000871 Anthelmintics Agents that kill parasitic worms. They are used therapeutically in the treatment of HELMINTHIASIS in man and animal. Anthelmintic,Antihelmintic,Vermifuge,Vermifuges,Antihelmintics
D012551 Schistosomatidae A family of blood flukes of the class Trematoda which is found in animals and man. It Includes the genera Heterobilharzia, Schistosomatium, Schistosoma, Ornithobilharzia, Bilharziella, Trichobilharzia, Pseudobilharzia, and Austrobilharzia.

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