Proliferative Sparganosis Due to Spirometra mansoni in a Dog: A Detailed Diagnostic Picture

A young Blue Heeler presented for abdominal distension and weight gain, without a history of raw feeding or travel outside the western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Abdominal ultrasound noted innumerable small anechoic oval cystic structures scattered throughout the peritoneal cavity and suspended in a large volume of echogenic peritoneal effusion. Subsequent diagnostics, including computed tomography, exploratory laparotomy, histopathology and molecular testing, confirmed the structures were Spirometra mansoni plerocercoids, and the patient was diagnosed with proliferative sparganosis. Despite treatment, the animal's health rapidly declined and was euthanised three weeks later. The postmortem revealed extensive diffuse severe granulomatous peritonitis with fibrinous adhesions throughout the peritoneal cavity. Proliferative sparganosis is a rare and devastating parasitic condition resulting from asexual replication of Spirometra spp. larvae within body cavities or organs. This article provides a detailed diagnostic picture of canine peritoneal proliferative sparganosis and is the first report describing the ultrasonographic findings of this condition.