Difference between revisions of "Filaroides osleri"

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[[Category:Metastrongyloidea]][[Category:Dog_Nematodes]]
 
[[Category:Metastrongyloidea]][[Category:Dog_Nematodes]]
 
[[Category:To_Do_-_Max]]
 
[[Category:To_Do_-_Max]]
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[[Category:Respiratory Parasitic Infections]]

Revision as of 11:11, 20 July 2010

FILAROIDES (= Oslerus) OSLERI

  • F. osleri is atypical of the Metastrongyloidea in almost every way.
  • Adults (approximately 1cm) are found in dogs clustered in fibrous nodules (few mm - 2cm) on tracheal wall (near bifurcation of trachea).
  • This means that small numbers of L1 are found in the sputum, and can either be passed to the skin during grooming, or can be passed in the faeces (dead-end for life-cycle).
  • Transmission from bitch to pups occurs during grooming via transfer of sputum.
  • Horizontal transmission rarely, if ever, happens.
  • Infection is usually asymptomatic, but if symptoms are present, there is a chronic, dry, debilitating cough - performance of greyhounds may be affected.

Filaroides Infections

  • F. osleri is usually associated with particular boarding kennels.
  • Diagnosis and treatment are difficult.
  • The Baermann apparatus is used to recover L1 from faeces.
  • Larvae are, however, few in number and have sluggish movements.
  • They may, therefore, be very difficult to demonstrate in faeces or sputum.
  • Endoscopy (to visualise the tracheal nodules) is often required to confirm diagnosis.

Fenbendazole is licensed for the treatment.


  • = Oslerus osleri
  • Colonise the trachea of dogs
  • Larva and adults accumulate in submucosal nodules of up to 1cm diameter at the tracheal bifurcation.
  • Minimal inflammatory host reaction to the nematodes when they are alive - the size of the nodule is related to the number and size of the nematodes within it.
  • When the parasites die, an intense foreign body reaction develops
  • Tracheal nodules can cause coughing, usually in young dogs <18 months old.
  • Severe infestation can cause significant occlusion of the airway.
  • Uncommon, but sometimes seen in coughing greyhounds