[Linguatula serrata-infection in a dog imported from Romania to Germany]

The pentastomid Linguatula serrata, the so-called "tongue worm", is a nasopharyngeal parasite of dogs widely distributed in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. While linguatulosis was formerly also endemic in Central Europe, it now mainly plays a role as an imported parasitosis. Because L. serrata is known to be a zoonotic agent, a potential infection risk for the owner and other contact persons needs to be considered. Here, a 1.5-year-old, mixed-breed sheepdog, which had been imported from Romania, was presented because of serous nasal discharge and a pharyngeal "throat-clearing" noise. Upon sneezing, a parasite specimen was expelled and the tentative diagnosis "lingua-tulosis" was made. After expulsion of the parasite, clinical signs initially resolved. However, a second L. serrata individual was expelled 8 months later, so that a treatment attempt with milbemycin oxime/ praziquantel was initiated. No parasite eggs were detected in fecal samples or nasal mucus smears at this stage. This case report highlights the difficulties associated with the diagnosis and treatment of linguatulosis and discusses them in light of the zoonotic potential of this parasite.