Intranasal Linguatula serrata (tongue worm) in canids and vulpids can be detected using computed tomography

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dc.contributor.author Birckhead, Alice
dc.contributor.author Jenkins, David
dc.contributor.author Shamsi, Shokoofeh
dc.contributor.author Malik, Richard
dc.contributor.author Carstens, Ann
dc.date.accessioned 2024-09-16T11:44:36Z
dc.date.available 2024-09-16T11:44:36Z
dc.date.issued 2024
dc.description DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The data used in this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. en_US
dc.description.abstract Linguatula serrata (“tongue worm”) is a zoonotic intranasal parasite found globally in wild dogs, free-ranging dogs, some domestic dogs, and vulpids. Since there are no sensitive tests currently available, infections are underdiagnosed. This is a pilot observational prospective study aimed at determining whether nasal linguatulosis can be diagnosed using CT. The secondary aims were to evaluate radiography, rhinoscopy, and nasal egg swabs as methods in the diagnosis of tongue worms. Fifty-four wild canids and three vulpids euthanased by gunshot were sourced from pest-control officers. Cadaver heads were subjected to helical CT examination, nasal-swabbed for tongue worm eggs, and necropsied. Radiographs and rhinoscopy were performed on cadavers suspected to be infected based on preliminary CT examination. Tongue worms were retrieved at necropsy in 25 dogs and one fox. CT findings in animals with no nasal cavity ballistic damage were reviewed in six infected dogs and one infected fox. Adult female tongue worms were identified in 4 of 6 dogs and 1 of 1 fox as long, tubular, slightly heterogeneously attenuating structures in the mid to caudal nasal cavities. They were not clearly visible in CT scans when surrounded by nasal fluid, and small parasites (male and immature females) were not discernible. Radiographic findings were mild and nonspecific. One tongue worm was detected in 1 of 12 dogs examined rhinoscopically. Tongue worm eggs were found in swabs from 7 of 25 dogs. While small tongue worms could not be detected with CT, CT proved to be a useful diagnostic method for visualizing adult female tongue worms. en_US
dc.description.department Companion Animal Clinical Studies en_US
dc.description.librarian hj2024 en_US
dc.description.sdg SDG-03:Good heatlh and well-being en_US
dc.description.sponsorship Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. en_US
dc.description.uri https://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/vru en_US
dc.identifier.citation Birckhead, A., Jenkins, D., Shamsi, S., Malik, R. & Carstens, A. Intranasal Linguatula serrata (tongue worm) in canids and vulpids can be detected using computed tomography. Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound 2024; 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.13428. en_US
dc.identifier.issn 1058-8183 (print)
dc.identifier.issn 1740-8261 (online)
dc.identifier.other 10.1111/vru.13428
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/2263/98231
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.publisher Wiley en_US
dc.rights © 2024 The Author(s). Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Radiology. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License. en_US
dc.subject Tongue worm (Linguatula serrata) en_US
dc.subject Linguatula serrata en_US
dc.subject Parasitic en_US
dc.subject Pentastomida en_US
dc.subject Rhinitis en_US
dc.subject Wild dogs en_US
dc.subject Free-ranging dogs en_US
dc.subject Domestic dogs en_US
dc.subject Vulpids en_US
dc.subject Computed tomography (CT) en_US
dc.subject SDG-03: Good health and well-being en_US
dc.title Intranasal Linguatula serrata (tongue worm) in canids and vulpids can be detected using computed tomography en_US
dc.type Article en_US


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