Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection in an immunosuppressed dog from France

Strongyloides stercoralis is a threadworm, whose adult females parasitize the small intestine of mammals causing severe clinical presentations in immunosuppressed animals and puppies. A 10-month-old male Chihuahua dog was referred due to chronic diarrhoeic haematochezia, hematemesis, weight loss, pruritus and cough. During the clinical examination, severe weight loss and alopecia on the abdomen were observed. Stool examinations revealed the presence of alive larvae of S. stercoralis, as well as cysts and trophozoites of Giardia duodenalis. The negativity to S. stercoralis infection was achieved only after administration of ivermectin. Results of this study confirm that routine copromicroscopic methods may fail to diagnose S. stercoralis infection. In addition, although fenbendazole is considered the drug of choice for the treatment of canine strongyloidiasis, ivermectin may be a valid alternative.