Detection of a Larva of Armillifer armillatus in a Potto (Perodicticus potto) from the Republic of the Congo

Linguatula serrata in an imported dog in Germany: Single-case or emerging disease?

Linguatula serrata is a worm-like parasite with zoonotic potential that inhabits the nasal cavities of canids. Although most cases of linguatulosis are associated with unspecific and rather mild respiratory symptoms, cases of unusual infestations and severe courses in both animals and humans have been reported. In central and northern Europe, the pathogen used to appear only sporadically, however, within the last few years the number of detections has increased noticeably. In July 2020 an approximately nine-month-old dog, imported from Romania, was presented in a veterinary practice in Gotha, central Germany, due to persistent worsening cough. Despite antibiotic treatment the tussis became more severe until the dog expectorated multiple worm-like structures. Three of these specimens were sent to the Institute of Parasitology (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig) for morphological and genetic species identification. The latter was based on a 1000-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (cox1) and the complete nuclear 18S rRNA gene. The dog presented in this study suffered from a severe respiratory impairment caused by worm-like parasites inhabiting its upper respiratory tract. The detected parasites were morphologically identified as female specimens of the so-called tongue-worm L. serrata, which was confirmed by pairwise alignment and phylogenetic analysis of the produced sequences. We report an unusually severe case of L. serrata infection in an imported dog and discuss the spread of this potentially dangerous parasite in central and northern Europe.

The first Linguatula serrata case in an imported dog in Finland

Linguatula serrata is a pentastomid parasite infecting carnivores as definitive hosts and herbivores as intermediate hosts. In carnivores, including dogs, it usually parasitises the nasal cavity and sinuses, causing upper respiratory signs. This case report presents the first canine Linguatula case in Finland in an imported dog originating from Spain. In addition to the unremarkable clinical history of the dog, the treatment, parasite's morphology and molecular analysis are described, and the zoonotic potential is discussed.