Introduction

Classification

Taxonomy

• Superfamily: Metastrongyloidea.
• Genus: Crenosoma.

Active Forms

Clinical Effects

Epidemiology

Habitat

• Adults in bronchi and occasionally trachea of dogs, foxes and other Canidae, raccoons, etc.
• L3 in molluscs (a variety of terrestrial snails and slugs).

Lifecycle

• Adult.
• 1st stage larva.
• 3rd stage larva.

Transmission

Transmission to dog

• Ingestion of L3 in mollusc.

Transmission to mollusc

• Ingestion of L1 in dog feces.

Pathological effects

• Adults damage bronchial mucosa and may occlude small bronchi and bronchioles.
• L1 swept back to the lungs may induce granulomas.
• Peak of clinical disease in autumn from seasonal ingestion of molluscs.

Other Host Effects

• History of contact with infected intermediate hosts (molluscs), in rural areas. Common in foxes and dogs.

Control

Control via animal

• Anthelmintic treatment.
• Removal of dog from fox/intermediate host environment.
• Removal of feces immediately when passed.

Control via chemotherapies

• No clinical trials have been carried out. Some modern drugs should be effective.
  Either Fenbendazole Fenbendazole (20 mg/kg for 14 days) (unlicensed use in dogs).
  Or Pyrantel Pyrantel embonate /febantel/praziquantel Praziquantel.
• Levamisole Levamisole (7.5 mg/kg SID for 1-2 days) (not licensed for use in dogs).
  Care: narrow therapeutic index for levamisol.

Control via environment

• Dry runs to reduce snail population.
• Molluscicides might have some effect.

Diagnosis

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Peterson E N, Barr S C, Gould W J 3rd et al (1993) Use of fenbendazole for treatment of Crenosoma vulpis infection in a dog. JAVMA 202 (9), 1483-1484 PubMed.
• Cobb M A & Fisher M A (1992) Crenosoma vulpis infection in a dog. Vet Rec 130 (20), 452 PubMed.