Introduction

An infrequent cause for total nephrectomy in dogs is Dioctophyma renale, a large nematode that may cause progressive and severe destruction of the renal parenchyma. Few studies have evaluated pre- and postoperatively dogs submitted to nephrectomy due to Dioctophyma renale, or assessed the histopathological damage of the removed kidney.

Aim

The present study aimed to evaluate pre- and postoperatively dogs submitted to nephrectomy due to Dioctophyma renale, and to assess the histopathological damage of the removed kidney.

Methods

Eight crossbred dogs, aged from 12 to 48 months that were nephrectomized due to the presence of Dioctophyma renale were evaluated. Physical examination, urinalysis, complete blood count, serum biochemistry, and abdominal ultrasound were performed immediately before and one month after nephrectomy. The nephrectomized right kidneys were submitted to macroscopic and microscopic evaluations.

Results

Urinalysis preoperatively detected urine occult blood in all dogs and Dioctophyma renale eggs in 5. Complete blood count showed all parameters within the reference range, except one dog postoperatively. Serum biochemistry performed before and after surgery verified that urea, creatinine and sodium were within the reference range values in all dogs. Other findings varied among the dogs. The length and resistive index mean values of the left kidney were similar pre- and postoperatively.

Conclusion

The inconsiderable change in laboratory findings pre- and postoperatively was attributable to compensation by left kidney function for the abnormal right kidney. Right kidney histology detected chronic nephropathy due to Dioctophyma renale.