Dioctophymosis in a dog: renal and extra-renal colonization

This report describes the case of a young mixed-breed female dog rescued in Bahia State, Brazil, and referred for veterinary care in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Abdominal ultrasonography showed findings consistent with Dioctophyme renale infection in the right kidney during routine pre-surgical screening and tubular structures suggestive of free nematodes in the abdominal cavity. Right nephrectomy was performed with ovariosalpingohysterectomy after clinical, laboratory and cardiologic assessments and it resulted in the removal of eight adult helminths. The procedure was uneventful and the patient showed good postoperative recovery. This case highlights the relevance of parasitic screening in rescued animals with no prior clinical history, as well as the effectiveness of surgical intervention in unilateral dioctophymosis cases.