Tongue worm (Linguatula species) in stray dogs imported into the UK

Abstract

This parasite has been previously reported in the nasal passages of foxes in the UK (Lapage 1968), but the recent cases have been seen in imported stray dogs from Romania, where dogs are routinely fed on raw meat. There are reports, in Romanian journals, of a prevalence of infection with L serrata nymphs of 20 to 40 per cent in the mesenteric lymph nodes of slaughtered domestic ruminants (M. Ionita, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, personal communication). The parasite is also potentially zoonotic with rare human infections reported (Acha and Szyfres 2003). These infections have included parasite localisation in the eye requiring surgical intervention (Koehsler and others 2011, Pal and others 2011). Therefore, where the parasite is confirmed or suspected, strict hygiene measures during pet handling should be observed by the owner and all those who have contact with the animal, as eggs could be expelled via the oral, nasal or faecal routes, or contaminate the animal's coat. Nasal flushing with warm salty water may help to detach the parasites in the dog. Screening of suspected infected animals by identification of eggs in nasal flushes could also be carried out. Surgical removal of the parasite may not be curative as they can attach to the sinuses. Macrocyclic lactones are used as a treatment in Romania. There is a report of parasite expulsion following milbemycin oxime treatment in a dog (Gjerde 2013) and also that injectable ivermectin was effective against a related species, Linguatula arctica, in reindeer (Haugerud and others 1993). There has been an incident of the related species, L arctica, being detected in the nasal cavity and distal bronchi of a three-year-old reindeer in Great Britain that died of an unrelated condition. This parasite is reported as being relatively common in semi-domesticated reindeer in northern Norway (Gjerde 2013).

A One Health Perspective on the Human–Companion Animal Relationship with Emphasis on Zoonotic Aspects

“…Animals could be infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia canis, Brucella canis, Borrelia burgdorferi, Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm), Dirofilaria repens (subcutaneous worm), Echinococcus multilocularis (fox tapeworm), Echinococcus granulosus (hydatid or dog tapeworm), Ehrlichia canis, Hepatozoon canis, Leishmania infantum, Linguatula serrata (tongue worm), Onchocerca lupi, rabies, Rickettsia conorii, Strongyloides stercoralis, and Thelazia callipeda. Except B. canis, E. canis, and H. canis, the infections are zoonotic and regularly reported [192][193][194][195][196][197][198][199][200][201][202].…”

Importing rescue dogs into the UK: reasons, methods and welfare considerations

“…Several cases of Leishmaniasis have been confirmed in imported rescue dogs 20 and have also resulted in transmission to another household dog with no travel history 21 . Linguatua serrata has been reported in stray dogs imported from Romania, after having only previously been seen in foxes in the UK 22 . It is currently unclear whether other cases throughout Europe reflect an expansion of core endemic areas or if they are isolated cases 23 …”

Tongue worm (Linguatula serrata) infection in a dog imported into the United Kingdom from Romania

“…Significant increases in imported dog numbers were also recorded by Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs from Hungary, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia and Greece 16 . As a consequence, zoonotic parasitic diseases not previously commonly seen in the United Kingdom, such as dirofilariasis, leishmaniosis and linguatulosis are increasingly diagnosed in UK veterinary practice in travelled or imported dogs 15,17 …”

“…13 In Western Europe, linguatulosis is still considered sporadic in domestic carnivores; however, in recent years, the number of cases in dogs imported into the United Kingdom has increased. 15 Here, we report a case of linguatulosis in a 10month-old rescued dog imported from Romania. and respiratory distress.…”