Prevalence and histopathology of Spirocerca lupi infection with special reference to respiratory passage in dogs in Aizawl, Mizoram, India Borthakur S.K.1, Rajkhowa T.K.2, Sarmah K.3, Das M.R.4 1Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Sciences & A.H., Central Agricultural University, Selesih, Aizawl, Mizoram, India 2Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandary, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati-22 3Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandary, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati-22 4Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandary, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati-22 Abstract Respiratory lesions attributable to Spirocerca lupi infection were found in 35 (24.14%) of 145 dogs examined in a local abattoir in Aizawl, Mizoram state. Only 12 (8.27%) dogs had infection in oesophagus. Noduler lesions caused by worms were seen in tracheal bifurcation of respiratory passage. The nodules were greyish white in colour, measuring 3.5 cm x 3cm x 2cm in size, sessile and deeply located in the tracheal mucosa. On opening,each nodule revealed masses of (up to 22) tightly coiled S.lupi embedded in creamy exudates. Histopathologically, the affected area showed total replacement of the lamina propria of the bronchial wall by the granulomatous tissue reaction which extended up to submucosa. The wall of the nodules composed mainly of mature and immature fibroblasts with collagen fibers without showing anaplastic changes. Top Keywords Spirocerca lupi, Tracheal bifurcation, Nodules, Histopathology. Top |