- Dioctophyma renale
"Dioctophyma renale" or the giant kidney worm is a common parasital worm found especially in carnivorous animals, particularly
mink s andmustelid s. It can also infect cats, dogs and humans. Becoming up to 60 centimeters in length inmink and up to 100 centimeters inlupine animals, this vermillion kidney worm is one of the largest of all parasiticnematodes .The giant kidney worm enters the definitive host (most commonly the mink) after ingestion of raw fish, frogs, or
annelid s containing encystedlarva e. The larva migrates through the bowel wall and travels through the abdominal cavity first to the liver and then to the kidney. It slowly devouring therenal tissue of the host and reducing it to a hollow organic sack. It is found more frequently in the right kidney than in the left. [cite web | title = Giant Kidney Worm Infection in Mink and Dogs | work = The Merck Veterinary Manual | date = 2006 | url = http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/130506.htm | accessdate = 2007-02-10 ] It can also occur in thedigestive tract .Occasionally this worm is an incidental finding within the abdominal cavity during routine ovariohysterectomies on canines in veterinary practices.
External links
* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dioctophyma_renale.html Animal Diversity Web]
References
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