Pathological manifestations of dipylidiasis in a 2-month-old German shepherd puppy

Abstract

Dipylidium caninum, a zoonotic parasite, is known to be widely spread across the globe. In this case, we present a report of dipylidiasis in a puppy with the associated pathological lesions. A two-month-old German shepherd puppy was presented to the University of Jos Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Polo, with a complaint of loss of weight and inappetence. The puppy died shortly before treatment could be instituted, and the carcass was submitted for postmortem examination. A flea (Ctenocephalides canis) was identified on the body during the postmortem examination. The lungs were severely pale, and the intestinal mucosae had petechial haemorrhages with multiple button-like ulcers. Live worms were seen within the intestinal lumen, identified as Dipylidium caninum. Histopathological lesions include cellular necrosis in the submucosa and muscularis, obliteration of goblet cells and intestinal crypts in the colon. Based on the intestinal lesions observed in this report, it was concluded that dipylidiasis could be considered as a differential diagnosis in dogs at postmortem.