Regional Veterinary Surgery

PARASITES IN THE NASAL CHAMBERS

Incidence

• The only parasite Linguatula taenioides which is almost confined to the dog , being very rarely found in the horse, mule sheep and goat.

Location of parasite

• It  may locate in any part of the nasal chamber but most commonly seen in the convolution of the ethmoid and in the cul-de-sac of the middle meatus.

Transmission

• The dog becomes infested by eating the viscera of herbivore, usually the sheep and rabbit, containing the larvae of the parasite

Symptoms

• The usual number of parasites is two that will cause no clinical signs but when they are more in number, they cause agitation of the host, the dog scratching his nose with his paws, sneezing frequently and sometimes showing aberrations simulating rabies.
• There may be mucoid discharge from the nose, occasionally streaked with blood.
• The parasites remain for months in the nose, eventually die or are expelled.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis is based on the following examination
  • Direct finding the parasites and their eggs
  • Microscopic examination of nasal discharge 
  • Differential diagnosis- nasal catarrh, distemper, rabies

Treatment

• There is no successful treatment but supportive measurements are as follows
• Snuff may be used to make the dog sneeze, with a view to causing expulsion of the pest.
• In alarming condition, trephining the nose and remove the worms
• Slightly irritating injections have been used with some success eg. dilute solutions of ammonia or benzene. This may be introduced through the nostril or through an artificial opening, their object being to dislodge or destroy the parasites.