Eight-month-old female dog parasitized by Dioctophyma renale, diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound

Abstract

Dioctophyma renale, also known as giant kidney worm, is a nematode with worldwide distribution and, although it can be found in other organs and also free in the abdominal cavity, it stands out for being the only one capable of specifically colonizing the kidney, being more prevalent in the right kidney. It has been described parasitizing mustelids, domestic and wild carnivores and, rarely, man. Infections caused by D. renale occur through ingestion of larvae that may be present in fish, frogs or aquatic annelids by the definitive host. Clinical signs in general are hematuria, inappetence and abdominal and lumbar pain, however, animals can be asymptomatic when only one kidney is parasitized. The diagnosis is made by finding and identifying eggs in parasitological examination of urine, abdominal ultrasound or even excretory urography, which can complement the diagnosis. Treatment consists of nephrectomy for advanced stage cases or nephrotomy to remove the parasite in cases with early diagnosis. In this context, the objective was to report a case of parasitism in a six-month-old female canine, attended at the veterinary clinic É o Bicho, in Rezende, Rio de Janeiro. Its main clinical sign was hematuria, highlighting the importance of B-mode abdominal ultrasound as a quick and efficient diagnostic method in the identification of D. renale in dog kidneys.