Ferrantelli V, Riili S, Vicari D, Percipalle M, Chetta M, Monteverde V, Gaglio G, Giardina G, Usai F, Poglayen G
Veterinary State Institute of Sicily A. Mirri-Palermo, Italy.
Pol J Vet Sci. 2010;13(3):465-71.
Spirocerca lupi (Rudolphi 1809) is a cosmopolitan nematode of dogs and wild carnivores. In the past it has been reported in Italy, mainly in southern regions and in Sicily, where the parasite was observed in foxes in 2005. The parasite typically produces nodular masses in the oesophagus and thoracic aorta. During the 2003-2004 hunting season, the authors investigated a total of 55 foxes (Vulpes vulpes) hunted or killed by car accidents in the provinces of Palermo and Agrigento. All the foxes were subjected to necropsy and 6 (9.16%) had S. lupi nodules located exclusively in the gastric wall. The nature of the nodules was determined by opening them and detecting the nematodes inside, which were identified as S. lupi. Some of the nodules were characterized anatomopathologically and histopathologically. The formation of the parasitic nodule in the stomach only suggests a deviation from the route commonly followed by the nematode to reach the oesophagus, the elective anatomical site for completion of its lifecycle. This survey gives a contribution to the epidemiology of this parasite which is severely outdated in Italy and highlights some distinctive features of the life cycle and parasite migration.
狼旋尾线虫（Rudolphi，1809年）是一种寄生于犬类和野生食肉动物的世界性线虫。过去在意大利有相关报道，主要集中在南部地区和西西里岛，2005年在当地狐狸体内发现了这种寄生虫。该寄生虫通常会在食管和胸主动脉中形成结节状肿块。在2003 - 2004年狩猎季节，作者对巴勒莫省和阿格里真托省共55只因狩猎或交通事故死亡的狐狸（赤狐）进行了调查。所有狐狸均接受了尸检，其中6只（9.16%）有仅位于胃壁的狼旋尾线虫结节。通过打开结节并检测内部的线虫来确定结节的性质，这些线虫被鉴定为狼旋尾线虫。部分结节进行了解剖病理学和组织病理学特征分析。仅在胃中形成寄生结节表明线虫偏离了通常到达食管的路径，食管是其完成生命周期的首选解剖部位。这项调查为意大利严重过时的该寄生虫流行病学研究做出了贡献，并突出了其生命周期和寄生虫迁移的一些独特特征。
