Heterobilharzia americana infection in dogs: A retrospective study of 60 cases (2010-2019). 2021

Amber M Graham, and Amy Davenport, and Valentina S Moshnikova, and Lindsey J Gilmour, and Michelle Fabiani, and Micah A Bishop, and Audrey K Cook
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.

BACKGROUND The trematode Heterobilharzia americana (HA) causes granulomatous gastrointestinal and hepatic disease in dogs. Before 2008, diagnosis relied on saline fecal sedimentation or histopathology, and earlier reports primarily described dogs with advanced disease or cases diagnosed incidentally at necropsy. The advent of a fecal PCR test has facilitated the diagnosis of HA and provided insights into manifestations and response to treatment. OBJECTIVE Describe the clinical findings, response to treatment, and outcome for dogs infected with HA. METHODS Sixty dogs diagnosed with HA between 2010 and 2019. METHODS Retrospective study. Medical records were searched for dogs diagnosed with HA by fecal PCR testing, identification of ova in feces, or histopathology. RESULTS Mean age was 7.5 (±4.1) years and weight was 23.2 (±10.18) kg. Clinical signs included diarrhea (55.8%), vomiting (46.2%), and weight loss with or without anorexia (15.4%). Laboratory abnormalities included hyperglobulinemia (42.6%) and increased liver enzyme activities (30%). More than 40% of dogs had an eosinophil count >500/μL. Hypercalcemia attributable to HA was identified in only 4 dogs. Pinpoint hyperechoic foci were noted in intestines, liver, or mesenteric lymph nodes during transabdominal ultrasonography in 64.4% of dogs. Survival data was available for 34 dogs, of which 73.5% (25) were alive 6 months after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS Hyperglobulinemia, high eosinophil count, and ultrasonographic evidence of visceral mineralization were suggestive of infection. Hypercalcemia was uncommon. Combination treatment with praziquantel and fenbendazole was variably effective, and 17.6% of treated dogs with known outcome died as a result of HA infection.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
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
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
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
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.
D014201 Trematode Infections Infections caused by infestation with worms of the class Trematoda. Fasciolopsiasis,Metagonimiasis,Infections, Trematode,Fasciolopsiases,Infection, Trematode,Metagonimiases,Trematode Infection

Related Publications

Amber M Graham, and Amy Davenport, and Valentina S Moshnikova, and Lindsey J Gilmour, and Michelle Fabiani, and Micah A Bishop, and Audrey K Cook
January 2010, Journal of veterinary internal medicine,
Amber M Graham, and Amy Davenport, and Valentina S Moshnikova, and Lindsey J Gilmour, and Michelle Fabiani, and Micah A Bishop, and Audrey K Cook
January 1983, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
Amber M Graham, and Amy Davenport, and Valentina S Moshnikova, and Lindsey J Gilmour, and Michelle Fabiani, and Micah A Bishop, and Audrey K Cook
September 1963, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
Amber M Graham, and Amy Davenport, and Valentina S Moshnikova, and Lindsey J Gilmour, and Michelle Fabiani, and Micah A Bishop, and Audrey K Cook
January 2002, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
Amber M Graham, and Amy Davenport, and Valentina S Moshnikova, and Lindsey J Gilmour, and Michelle Fabiani, and Micah A Bishop, and Audrey K Cook
November 1967, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene,
Amber M Graham, and Amy Davenport, and Valentina S Moshnikova, and Lindsey J Gilmour, and Michelle Fabiani, and Micah A Bishop, and Audrey K Cook
January 2011, Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association,
Amber M Graham, and Amy Davenport, and Valentina S Moshnikova, and Lindsey J Gilmour, and Michelle Fabiani, and Micah A Bishop, and Audrey K Cook
January 2010, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association,
Amber M Graham, and Amy Davenport, and Valentina S Moshnikova, and Lindsey J Gilmour, and Michelle Fabiani, and Micah A Bishop, and Audrey K Cook
September 2011, Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc,
Amber M Graham, and Amy Davenport, and Valentina S Moshnikova, and Lindsey J Gilmour, and Michelle Fabiani, and Micah A Bishop, and Audrey K Cook
May 2012, Veterinary pathology,
Amber M Graham, and Amy Davenport, and Valentina S Moshnikova, and Lindsey J Gilmour, and Michelle Fabiani, and Micah A Bishop, and Audrey K Cook
June 2014, Veterinary parasitology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!