Spirometra Mansonoides In Dogs And Cats
Spirometra mansonoides is a tapeworm parasite that commonly infects bobcats, domestic cats and dogs.
Unlike the more common tapeworm of dogs and cats, Dipylidium caninum, which uses the flea as its intermediate host, Spirometra have two intermediate hosts.
The life cycle begins with an infected animal (bobcat, dog, cat, racoon, and other mammals) passing eggs in worm segments called proglottids. Eggs mature into a larval stage that infects a copepod, which is a tiny aquatic animal. In the ocean, copepods are a major component of the food source known as plankton. Copepods are equally numerous in fresh water, and may be swallowed by a frog, snake or mammal drinking contaminated water. Thus, the copepod is the first intermediate host and the frog, snake, etc., is the second intermediate host.
The definitive host becomes infected by eating the second intermediate host. The bobcat is Spirometra’s preferred host, but it can reproduce satisfactorily in your house pet or hunting dog.
Most people are unaware of their pet’s infestation with Spirometra until we perform a routine fecal flotation. We see the characteristic eggs of the parasite, which appear on the microscope, to me, like a folded omelet. Attentive pet owners may notice proglottids of Spirometra in their pet’s stool or attached to the hair of the perineum.
Spirometra infestation rarely causes overt disease in pets, although vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss are possible when the parasite is present in large numbers.
See you Monday, Dr. Randolph.
Related posts:
- Tapeworms In Dogs And Cats
- Treatment Of Cuterebra Larva Infestation In Cats And Dogs
- I Saw A Worm In My Pet’s Stool!
