Dioctophyma (kidney worm)

Genus: Dioctophyma  (kidney worm)

Sp: D.  renale.

Location: Kidney parenchyma.

Final host: Dog , fox, mink occasionally horse ,cattle, man.

I/H: Aquatic annelids.

 

Morphology: largest nematode of domestic animals.(103 cm.)

Females > 60 cm.diameter 1cm.

Worms has blood red colour.

Eggs are barrel shaped & brownish –yellow.

Life cycle: Adult in the kidney---egg in urine in chain / clumps—egg ingested by annelid I/H.---—L-1=L-2=L-3(with in annelid)---I/H is swallowed by dog, fox –

                                                                                                                     Eaten by

                           Annelid with L-3 taken by frog, fish---        Para tonic host

                              

                                                              L-3 penetrate bowel wall---enter body cavity—                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   penetrate kidney.

Pathology:

Destruction of kidney parenchyma , leaving only the capsule as a sac containing the worms.

Usually no clinical sign as normal kidney serve the function.

Kidney trouble together with nervous sign.

Retention of urine & death from uremia when bladder or urethra is bloked.

In man ,renal colic , pyuria, haematuria may occure.

Right kidney are more frequently invaded.

Diagnosis: Egg in urine.

Treatment: Surgical removal of worms.