Occurrence and Pathology of Fatal Oesophageal Spirocercosis in a Doberman Dog

Spirocercosis is an important disease affecting primarily the domestic and wild canines. The disease is caused by the nematode, Spirocerca lupi. The parasites are potentially lethal and live inside nodules formed within the oesophageal wall of dogs. This study reports the findings observed during the necropsy conducted on the carcass of a ten year old female Doberman dog at the Department of Veterinary Pathology, KNP College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal. The dog had a history of anorexia and vomition and was treated for gastritis by the local veterinarian before it succumbed. Systemic necropsy revealed a large esophageal tumour like nodule at the distal oesophageal wall. The inner cavity of the nodule had six, 2 cm to 6 cm long reddish spirally coiled nematodes embedded in muco-purulent exudate. Histopathology of the nodule showed the presence of an inflammatory reaction consisting mostly of plasma cells and hemosiderin laden macrophages. The nematodes were identified as S. lupi based on its morphological characteristics.