Dioctophyme Renale

DIOCTOPHYME RENALE (Goeze; 1782), a large roundworm of the family Dioctophymidae, parasitizing in the renal pelvis of dogs (Fig. 1) and occasionally humans. Synonyms: Eustrongylus gigas, Dioctophyme viscerale, giant kidney worm. The parasite is bright red in color. Its powerful cylindrical body tapers toward both ends. The male is 140 mm to 400 mm in length. The tail ends in a characteristic bell-shaped pouch from which protrudes a single spiculum, visible even to the naked eye. The female is 200 mm to 1,000 mm in length. The eggs are 0.077 mm to 0.083 mm in length, with a width of 0.045 mm to 0.047 mm. The vulva opens near the anterior end. The eggshell has characteristic depressions over the entire surface, numbering 60 to 90 (Fig. 2).- The biology of D.r. has been poorly studied. The eggs mature in the external environment, forming an embryo inside which can remain in the egg for several years without hatching. Balbiani and Leuckart, when feeding dogs mature parasite eggs, did not achieve infection. From this fact it follows that the parasite requires an intermediate host. Based on experiments, it is assumed (Ciurea; 1922) that the intermediate host is the ide fish (Idus melanotus).- Distribution of D.r. In dogs in the USSR, D.r. is found almost everywhere. In humans in the USSR, D.r. has been found only once by the Far Eastern Helminthological Expedition in 1928 in a Gilyak in the lower Amur region, which is apparently associated with eating raw fish.- Diagnosis is made by detecting characteristic eggs in urine. It causes atrophy of renal tissue, with the prognosis being favorable in case of only one kidney being affected. When both kidneys are invaded, uremia is inevitable. - Therapy- nephrectomy.

3. Raevskaya.