Journal of Veterinary Clinics (한국임상수의학회지)

The Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics (한국임상수의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Calcified Dirofilaria immitis Mimicking Thoracic Foreign Body in a Dog

  • Yeongseok Jeong (College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Seungjo Park (College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University)
  • Received : 2023.09.25
  • Accepted : 2023.11.07
  • Published : 2023.12.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

A 13-year-old neutered male Pomeranian, weighting 3 kg, presented with respiratory distress and depression. Radiographic examination revealed calcified ring-like opacities in the main pulmonary artery, mimicking thoracic foreign bodies. Additionally, right heart and main pulmonary artery enlargement and notable lung infiltrations were also observed. Echocardiography showed coil shaped structures in the main pulmonary artery with increased echogenicity compared to other nearby heartworms, which is consistent with calcified Dirofilaria immitis (heartworms). The dog was diagnosed with caval syndrome, which is the advanced and severe manifestation of heartworm infection. This report presents a rare case of calcified heartworm infection observed during a radiological examination, which resemble foreign bodies. Therefore, chronic heartworm disease should be considered as a differential diagnosis when radiopaque ring-like opacities are observed in the pulmonary artery on thoracic radiographs.

Keywords

References

  1. American Heartworm Society. Current canine guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infection in dogs. Holly Springs: American Heartworm Society. 2018: 1-29.
  2. Atsumi E, Matsumoto H, Taira N, Yohena T, Kawasaki H, Kawabata T, et al. Thirteen cases of pulmonary dirofilariasis in a single institution in Okinawa Island. Virchows Arch 2019; 475: 335-340. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-019-02614-9
  3. Bajaj D, Sachdeva A, Deepak D. Foreign body aspiration. J Thorac Dis 2021; 13: 5159-5175. https://doi.org/10.21037/jtd.2020.03.94
  4. Banjar AA, Al-Shamani MR, Al-Harbi J. Long standing tracheal foreign body in children: a case report. Egypt J Ear Nose Throat Allied Sci 2014; 15: 57-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejenta.2013.11.002
  5. Bowman DD, Atkins CE. Heartworm biology, treatment, and control. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2009; 39: 1127-1158, vii. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2009.06.003
  6. Bussadori C, Domenech O, Longo A, Pradelli D, Bussadori R. Percutaneous catheter-based treatment of pulmonic stenosis and patent ductus arteriosus in a dog. J Vet Cardiol 2002; 4: 29-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1760-2734(06)70036-4
  7. Carlisle CH. Canine dirofilariasis: its radiographic appearance. Vet Radiol 1980; 21: 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8261.1980.tb00591.x
  8. Carranza-Rodriguez C, Perez-Arellano JL. Radiological detection of Dracunculus medinensis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2018; 98: 1218-1219. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.17-0944
  9. Choi YD, Han HJ. Pyothorax induced by an intrathoracic foreign body in a miniature dachshund: migration of a popsicle stick from the stomach. J Vet Med Sci 2017; 79: 1398-1403. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.17-0057
  10. Culp WT, Weisse C, Berent AC, Getman LM, Schaer TP, Solomon JA. Percutaneous endovascular retrieval of an intravascular foreign body in five dogs, a goat, and a horse. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2008; 232: 1850-1856. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.232.12.1850
  11. Davis SJ, Madden G, Carapiet D, Nixon M, Dennis S, Pringle M. Delayed presentation of paediatric tracheal foreign body. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2007; 264: 833-835. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-007-0250-z
  12. Ettinger S, Feldman E. Canine heartworm disease. In: Ettinger S, Feldman E, editors. Textbook of veterinary internal medicine: diseases of the dog and cat. St. Louis: Elsevier/Saunders. 2005: 1118-1144.
  13. Hoch H, Strickland K. Canine and feline dirofilariasis: life cycle, pathophysiology, and diagnosis. Compend Contin Educ Vet 2008; 30: 133-140; quiz 141.
  14. Iqbal I, Lateef M, Wani AA, Rafiq S. A rare case of foreign body bronchus: a case report. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2011; 63(Suppl 1): 81-82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-011-0206-x
  15. Kotani T, Powers KG. Developmental stages of Dirofilaria immitis in the dog. Am J Vet Res 1982; 43: 2199-2206.
  16. Mathiasen RA, Cruz RM. Asymptomatic near-total airway obstruction by a cylindrical tracheal foreign body. Laryngoscope 2005; 115: 274-277. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mlg.0000154732.16034.83
  17. Novak R. Calcifications in the breast in Filaria loa infection. Acta Radiol 1989; 30: 507-508.
  18. Rodriguez Carnero P, Hernandez Mateo P, Martin-Garre S, Garcia Perez A, Del Campo L. Unexpected hosts: imaging parasitic diseases. Insights Imaging 2017; 8: 101-125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13244-016-0525-2
  19. Rohrbach BW, Patton S. Effects of diagnostic test accuracy and treatment efficacy on the occurrence of suspected failure of heartworm prophylaxis in dogs. J Vet Intern Med 2013; 27: 791-797. Erratum in: J Vet Intern Med 2013; 27: 1289. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12092
  20. Sasai H, Kato K, Sasaki T, Koyama S, Kotani T, Fukata T. Echocardiographic diagnosis of dirofilariasis in a ferret. J Small Anim Pract 2000; 41: 172-174. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5827.2000.tb03189.x
  21. Strickland KN. Canine and feline caval syndrome. Clin Tech Small Anim Pract 1998; 13: 88-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1096-2867(98)80012-1
  22. Tappe D, Buttner DW. Diagnosis of human visceral pentastomiasis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2009; 3: e320.
  23. Taulescu MA, Negoescu A, Ungur A, Toma C, Ionica AM, Gal C, et al. Is the Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in domestic dogs underestimated or misdiagnosed? A comprehensive presentation of four lethal cases. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10: 1146713.
  24. Taylor AE. The development of Dirofilaria immitis in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. J Helminthol 1960; 34: 27-38. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022149X00020307
  25. Thrall DE. Textbook of veterinary diagnostic radiology. St. Louis: Elsevier Health Sciences. 2018: 684-709.