Unusual clinical presentation of spirocercosis in a dog

ABSTRACT

Spirocerca lupi is a common infection in dogs in the tropics, and the clinical disease(spirocercosis) frequently presents with regurgitation of ingested food usually within an hour of ingestion. Clinical diagnosis is often confirmed with thoracic radiographs which reveal eosphageal granulomas, spondylitis and spondylosis of the thoracic vertebrae. In the report we present a case of S. lupi infection characterised by the persistent cough rather than the usual regurgitation. We propose that this is a case of early manifestation when presented with a persistent cough unresponsive to routine treatment.