GASTRIC NODULE CAUSED BY SPIROCERCA LUPI

IN A RED FOX (VULPES VULPES)

A. Diakou1, E. Karamanavi2, E. Kaldrimidou2

1 Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, 2 Clinic of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

The largest species within the genus Vulpes, living in a wide

range of habitats

Solitary animals that do not form packs

Essentially omnivores, mostly eat rodents, eastern cottontail

rabbits, insects, fruit

They help to control populations of their prey animals

Case reportCase report

Adult red fox (Adult red fox (V. vulpesV. vulpes) for ) for post mortempost mortem examination examination

Nodule (2 x 3 cm) on the gastric wall (Nodule (2 x 3 cm) on the gastric wall (fundusfundus) )

Thick-walled cystic granuloma Thick-walled cystic granuloma

in the submucosa of the gastric wallin the submucosa of the gastric wall

Incision of the gastric nodule Incision of the gastric nodule revealingrevealing a number of nematodes a number of nematodes

(The cause of death of the fox was determined as poisoning)

NematodesNematodes

- Bright red, thick

- Males <4 cm , females <7.5 cm

- Mouth opening surrounded by six lobes

- Spirally coiled hind end of male

- Bursa with unequal spicules

- Vulva close to hind end of the oesophagus

- Uterus with characteristic eggs

Spirocerca lupiSpirocerca lupi

30-37 x 11-15 μm

Spirocerca lupiSpirocerca lupi

OrderOrder: Spirurida: Spirurida

FamilyFamily:: SpirocercidaeSpirocercidae

MaleMale: 3-5.4 cm : 3-5.4 cm FemaleFemale: 5.4-8 cm: 5.4-8 cm

CosmopolitanCosmopolitan

LLesionsesions: e: esophageal or gastric sophageal or gastric

ggranulomas, aortic scars and aneurysmsranulomas, aortic scars and aneurysms

Spirocerca lupi

Life cycle

Greece: S. lupi in 2-24% of the dogs

The first case of a gastric nodule caused by

S. lupi in a red fox in Greece

Epidemiological significance: cross infection

between wild and domesticated animals is

possible