Rare moose parasite found in Finnish dog’s lungs for the first time

By admin On Sep 24, 2024

Moose nose botfly

A parasite long known to plague moose has been discovered in a dog for the first time in Finland, in a case that has puzzled veterinarians. The larvae of Cephenemyia ulrichii, commonly known as the moose nose botfly, were found in the lungs and trachea of a border collie during a routine examination in August, marking the first instance of this parasite in a domestic pet.

The discovery was made at the Evidensia Animal Hospital in Lahti, where the dog had been brought in after sudden coughing and gagging during a forest walk.

Initially, the symptoms were suspected to be caused by a foreign object. However, upon further investigation using endoscopy, small, white, wriggling larvae were found in the dog’s airways.

“During the examination, I discovered these tiny, moving larvae in the trachea and bronchial tubes of the dog,” said Dr. Henna Laurila, a specialist in small animal internal medicine. The larvae were identified as the moose nose botfly, which is usually found in moose but had mistakenly infected the dog.

How the Parasite Spreads

The moose nose botfly has a unique and almost science fiction-like method of reproduction. Resembling a large bumblebee, the female fly shoots its larvae into the nostrils of moose in late summer, where they travel to the animal’s throat. There, the larvae develop and grow, sometimes reaching up to four centimeters in length. The larvae cause severe itching, prompting the moose to sneeze and cough them out in the spring, where they complete their lifecycle in the soil before becoming adult flies and starting the process again.

Although the parasite is typically host-specific to moose, it can occasionally infect other animals, including dogs and even humans. Cases of the larvae being found in people’s eyes and upper lips have been documented, though such instances are rare.

Symptoms and Treatment

In the case of the border collie, the dog began coughing heavily the day after showing initial symptoms. The cough worsened, leading to the discovery of the larvae. Following the diagnosis, some of the larvae were removed for analysis at the universities of Helsinki and Eastern Finland, while the dog was treated with a broad-spectrum antiparasitic medication, which quickly alleviated the symptoms.

This is not the first time the parasite has been found in a dog. In 2020, Cephenemyia larvae were discovered in the nose of a Finnish Lapphund, which exhibited severe sneezing. Dr. Laurila, who also made that discovery, suggests that these cases might not be as uncommon as previously thought.

“Perhaps the occurrence of these larvae in dogs is more common than we realize,” Laurila speculated.

While the parasite is known to grow up to four centimeters in moose, it is unclear whether it can reach the same size in dogs, as they are considered “accidental hosts.” Further research is needed to determine how the larvae behave in non-moose hosts.

This rare discovery serves as a reminder of the surprising ways in which wildlife and domestic animals can intersect, especially in areas where pets may come into contact with wild animals like moose.

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi