Experimental infection of Gnathostoma binucleatum in Canis familiaris from the municipality of Tepic in Nayarit, Mexico

Abstract

Gnathostoma binucleatum is the etiological agent of animal and human gnathostomiasis in the Nayarit
state. In four infected bitches, parasite phases were found in the stomach. Only one bitch eliminated
eggs and adult parasite phases in feces. In this bitch, the prepatent period lasted 22 weeks and the
patency period 14 weeks. Necropsy results showed a copiously vascularized 10-cm diameter fibrous
nodule lodged in the greater curvature of the stomach. Two bitches that did not eliminate any eggs
showed 1-2 cm diameter nodules on the gastric wall with 5 juvenile phases in each. One bitch that did
not eliminate any eggs and exhibited no gastric nodules showed juvenile parasites on the gastric wall.
New data on the pathological and parasitological aspects of canine gnathostomiasis are presented.