Dog with Dioctophymatosis: an Alarm for this Disease in Humans
Authors: Ferreira Manoel Luiz , De Carvalho Bruna Guedes , Silva Paulo Cesar , Renteria Juan Miguel , Rousso Raul , Absalão Raquel Veloso , Rosa Lima Sullivan , Ferreira Manso Jose Eduardo 
Published: December 2024

Background: The disease dioctophymatosis caused by the parasite Dictiophyma renale is a matter of veterinary public health, mainly in the control of zoonoses, monitoring of environmental pollution related to animals, hygiene and protection of animals. It is the largest known nematode. The Fish and frogs are paratenic hosts after ingestion of parasitized annelids. Humans and animals are definitive hosts after ingestion of intermediate or paratenic hosts with infective larvae. The objective was to describe a case of  Canis lupus familiaris infested by a free adult parasite in the abdominal cavity of a rural region, indicating an alert for this zoonosis.
Case: A dog, female, mixed breed, weight 15,700 kg, two years old, from the rural area of the city of Miguel Pereira, state of Rio de Janeiro, to undergo elective hysterectomy surgery. Routine preoperative tests were requested (hemogram, Alt, Ast, urea, creatinine, EAS and echocardiogram), with all results unchanged, eight-hour fasting and four-hour water fasting The animal was sent to the operating room and submitted to pre anesthesia, induction and maintenance of anesthesia. At laparotomy, a dark red cylindrical worm was seen that was immobile inside the abdominal cavity over the viscera, which was removed with the aid of anatomical tweezers, identified as a female Dioctophyma renale, 51 cm long. The abdominal cavity was visualized to check for further peritoneal and kidney damage. Based on the physical clinical examination and the results of the laboratory tests, it was decided to perform the initial elective surgical indication. The laparotomy suture was performed in the midline with 2-0 nylon thread, subcutaneously with 2-0 polyglactin thread, both with continuous sutures, and the skin suture was with simple stitches separated with nylon. The immediate postoperative protocol consisted of analgesia and abdominal ultrasound was requested, which was not authorized by the tutor. Mediate postoperative analgesia, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic and healing ointment in the surgical wound. Healing was by primary intention and the skin stitches were removed ten days after the surgical procedure. After 24 hours of removal of the stitches, the dog, when urinating, expelled a dark red cylindrical worm with a length measured at 25 cm when the person responsible for the animal again claimed the need for an ultrasound. After the arguments, he agreed and authorized the imaging exam.
Discussion: The reported case drew attention to municipalities that have rural areas with freshwater springs and that receive visits from wild animals and stray dogs. We agree with research related to the importance of carrying out new studies involving Dioctophyma renale and epidemiological data to better understand and facilitate the prevention and control of zoonosis, especially with regard to the capture, commercialization and consumption of fish from these regions which would make the disease very difficult in humans. The zoonosis dictyophymatosis needs to be investigated on the epidemiological aspects of a certain region where domestic and wild animals cohabit and that there are favorable conditions such as freshwater sources for infestations of this parasite to occur, in addition to strict control of hygiene and inspection of food and of products of animal origin.