Cysticercosis in Dogs

Cysticercosis is a rare disease caused by the larvae Taenia crassiceps, a type of tapeworm. Once the eggs (which is suspected to be found in the feces of infected foxes) are ingested by rabbits or other rodents, it develops in the abdominal and subcutaneous tissues, and eventually forms large masses of cysticerci (larval form) in the abdominal cavity, lungs, muscles, and in the tissues under the skin. Even worse, the cysticercus is capable of undergoing asexual reproduction and multiplying a high rate.

It is rarely reported in Europe or the United States, but often occurs in olders dogs or young immuno-compromised pups.

Symptoms and Types

Cysticerci masses may found under the skin or in other organs, causing several complications including:

• Anemia
• Loss of appetite (anorexia)
• Respiratory distress (when found in lungs)
• Yellowish skin (when found in abdominal cavity)

Causes

Mode of infection not clear, but three are hypothesized:

• Ingestion of parasite eggs found in feces of an infected fox (possibly a coyote)
• Autoinfection, whereby the dog reinfects itself by eating its own feces which contain Taenia crassiceps eggs
• Ingestion of the Taenia crassiceps in its larval stage (cysticercal)