Abstract
Dogs can be infected by several nematodes of the Trichuridae family. Trichuridae eggs are all similar, barrel shaped with polar plugs, and misdiagnosis among different species can occur. The most common species is Trichuris vulpis, while the respiratory parasites Eucoleus boehmi (syn. Capillaria boehmi) and Eucoleus aerophilus (syn. Capillaria aerophila) are rarely observed in pets. E. boehmi is reported for the first time in this study in north-western Italy with other Trichuridae. Dog faecal samples (270) were examined by flotation. E. boehmi (2.2%), E. aerophilus (4.4%) and T. vulpis (12.2%) were found; identification was done with measurements and through observation of morphological characters already known. The specific identification of E. boehmi was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy: its egg shell shows a dense network with a fine mesh, surrounding small pits, on the contrary E. aerophilus eggs present a thick mesh with wide depressions, while T. vulpis eggs surface is smooth.
Highlights
The aim of this work is to report for the first time the observation of E. boehmi in dogs in north-western Italy, together with other Trichuridae, and to describe the egg surface with scanning electron microscopy, comparing with E. aerophilus and T. vulpis eggs
From January 2010 to March 2011, as part of a wider study on canine endoparasites, 270 faecal samples of dogs living in a rural environment were randomly sampled in Liguria, north-western Italy
Trichuridae eggs were identified on the basis of morphologic and morphometric characteristics described in the literature (Campbell, 1991; Conboy, 2009; Schoning et al, 1993)
Summary
The aim of this work is to report for the first time the observation of E. boehmi in dogs in north-western Italy, together with other Trichuridae, and to describe the egg surface with scanning electron microscopy, comparing with E. aerophilus and T. vulpis eggs
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