[Trichinella induced polymyositis with unilateral lameness in a dog]

A 9-year-old Cairn Terrier was presented for a right thoracic limb lameness of 3-month duration resistant to anti-inflammatory pain treatment. Blood chemistry revealed a highly elevated creatine kinase activity. An orthopedic or vascular etiology of the lameness was excluded by radiographs, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Further workup for a neurologic or muscular etiology by electromyography, nerve conduction velocity measurement, and histology of muscle as well as nerve biopsies identified the cause of the lameness. Histology revealed a pyogranulomatous, necrotizing myositis with parasites of the species Trichinella. Furthermore different developmental stages of fungi were detected which were identified as Mucor sp. Treatment with albendazole and itraconazole significantly improved the patient's clinical signs.