[Alveolar echinococcosis in a pregnant bitch - a case report]

Alveolar echinococcosis is a significant zoonotic disease characterized by infiltrative growth of metacestodes in intermediate hosts. It is primarily located in the liver and is associated with a high mortality rate if left untreated. To the authors' knowledge, the present report describes the first case of alveolar echinococcosis in a pregnant dog documented in the literature.A five-year-old, unneutered female Labrador Retriever was presented shortly after artificial insemination with abdominal distension, polydipsia, and polyuria. Further examinations led to the diagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis and treatment with albendazole was initiated. At the owner's explicit request, the pregnancy was continued. Six viable puppies were delivered, a subset by caesarean section.This case describes the diagnostic and therapeutic options for alveolar echinococcosis and discusses the possible influences between pregnancy and echinococcosis with regard to therapy, disease progression, and prognosis.