Lipoptena cervi (deer ked) in two naturally infested dogs.

摘要

A 12-year-old female crossbred terrier was brought to a clinic in North Rhine Westphalia, Germany in August 2004 with a one-month history of persistent diffuse erythema in the abdominal area with marked pruritus associated with loss of condition. During clinical examination, brownish, wingless arthropods were detected on the dog's skin. The dog was treated with a topical pyrethroid (Exspot) and the following day, only dead specimens were found in the hair of the animal. Amelioration of clinical signs was achieved one week after topical treatment. Four days later, a 12-year-old male German Shepherd dog was presented to the same clinic with paralysis of the hindlegs due to a muscular tumour. During clinical examination, a large number of brown, wingless, moving arthropods were detected on the skin of the right and left antebrachia. The dog was treated topically as the first dog. Based on the morphological features, the ectoparasites in both dogs were identified as adult Lipoptena cervi. All specimens had engorged abdomens, indicating a successful blood meal during their stay on the dogs. In view of these findings, L. cervi infestation should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of persistent pruritic dermatitis, flea allergy or other atopic cutaneous reactions..