Therapeutic management of concurrent flea allergy dermatitis and Dipylidium caninum infestation in a Pitbull dog

Abstract

A Pitbull dog was presented with restlessness, inappetence, hair loss, scooting, biting and scratching of hair coat, and loss of body condition since a week. The clinical examination revealed rashes, erythema, scaling, alopecia, hyperpigmented skin, intense pruritus and spoiling of hair coat affecting the dorsum mainly the caudo-dorsal lumbosacral aspect, tail heads and back of thighs. Adult fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) were also found moving and jumping all over the animal body. The faecal examination revealed presence of boiled rice like gravid segments of Dipylidium caninum. Diagnosis of flea bite allergic dermatitis was based on clinical findings, location of lesions, presence of fleas on body and evidence of gravid segments of D. caninum in the feces. The dog was successfully treated with Fipronil 0.25% (Fixotic) spray topically once and Praziquantel @10 mg/kg b.wt. Once orally. Supportive therapy included anti-histaminics, multivitamins and minerals supplementation. Clinical recovery was evaluated on basis of absence of pruritis, erythematous lesions and fleas along with negative faecal sample.

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2020; 8(3): 2034-2036
E-ISSN: 2320-7078
P-ISSN: 2349-6800
www.entomoljournal.com
JEZS 2020; 8(3): 2034-2036
© 2020 JEZS
Received: 09-03-2020
Accepted: 11-04-2020
Kanwarpal Singh Dhillon
Assistant Professor, Department
of Veterinary Medicine, Khalsa
College of Veterinary and Animal
Sciences (KCVAS), Amritsar,
Punjab, India
Ginny Bansal
B.V.Sc. Student, Khalsa College
of Veterinary and Animal
Sciences, Amritsar, Punjab,
India
Karanveer Singh
B.V.Sc. Student, Khalsa College
of Veterinary and Animal
Sciences, Amritsar, Punjab,
India
Sukhdev Singh Dhillon
Associate Professor, Department
of Veterinary Medicine, Khalsa
College of Veterinary and Animal
Sciences, Amritsar, Punjab,
India
Corresponding Author:
Kanwarpal Singh Dhillon
Assistant Professor, Department
of Veterinary Medicine, Khalsa
College of Veterinary and Animal
Sciences (KCVAS), Amritsar,
Punjab, India
Therapeutic management of concurrent flea
allergy dermatitis and Dipylidium caninum
infestation in a Pitbull dog
Kanwarpal Singh Dhillon, Ginny Bansal, Karanveer Singh and Sukhdev
Singh Dhillon
Abstract
A Pitbull dog was presented with restlessness, inappetence, hair loss, scooting, biting and scratching of
hair coat, and loss of body condition since a week. The clinical examination revealed rashes, erythema,
scaling, alopecia, hyperpigmented skin, intense pruritus and spoiling of hair coat affecting the dorsum
mainly the caudo-dorsal lumbosacral aspect, tail heads and back of thighs. Adult fleas (Ctenocephalides
felis) were also found moving and jumping all over the animal body. The faecal examination revealed
presence of boiled rice like gravid segments of Dipylidium caninum. Diagnosis of flea bite allergic
dermatitis was based on clinical findings, location of lesions, presence of fleas on body and evidence of
gravid segments of D. caninum in the feces. The dog was successfully treated with Fipronil 0.25%
(Fixotic) spray topically once and Praziquantel @10 mg/kg b.wt. Once orally. Supportive therapy
included anti-histaminics, multivitamins and minerals supplementation. Clinical recovery was evaluated
on basis of absence of pruritis, erythematous lesions and fleas along with negative faecal sample.
Keywords: Dog, flea allergy dermatitis, Dipylidium caninum, Ctenocephalides felis, fipronil,
praziquantel
Introduction
Flea bite hypersensitivity also called Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) is the most common skin
allergy encountered in small animal medicine [1]. Several types of fleas infest hair coat of
animals such as Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides canis. Ctenocephalidis felis is
most commonly encountered fleas whereas Ctenocephalidis canis is less common [2]. Flea
infestations pose serious health problem to dogs and cats and increase the risk of transmitting
numerous pathogens. Non-allergic animals may have few or no clinical signs and only show
occasional scratching due to irritation caused by fleas or their bites [3]. Animals that are allergic
or develop immunological reaction to flea saliva show pruritus, alopecia and skin lesions. The
cat flea is also the intermediate host for Dipylidium caninum [4]. Untreated canine and other
hosts can act as infestation sources.
Flea infestation is commonly found on animals with poor body condition, low immune status
and suffering from chronic debilitating diseases. At the site of flea bite, an area of ischemia
with surrounding wheal appears. The best sites for search for flea on pet animals are
lumbosacral area (flea triangle), hind quarter, base of tail, stomach and groin region. A
combination of presence of fleas (or flea faeces) and response to treatment, together with
elimination of other possible causes confirms the diagnosis of FAD.
History and Diagnosis
A three years old male Pitbull dog was presented to Veterinary Clinical Complex, Khalsa
College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Amritsar with a complaint of restlessness,
inappetence, hair loss, biting and scratching of hair coat, and loss of body condition since a
week. The animal was repeatedly treated by local veterinarians without success. History
regarding deworming and vaccination was incomplete. The owner concerned was questioned
further and it transpired that the dog drags their rump across the floor (scooting).
The clinical examination revealed rashes, erythema, scaling, alopecia, hyperpigmented skin,
intense pruritus and spoiling of hair coat affecting the dorsum mainly the caudo-dorsal
lumbosacral aspect, tail heads and back of thighs (Fig. 1).

Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies http://www.entomoljournal.com
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The affected dog typically exhibit thinning of the hair along
tail base in a classical, “Christmas tree” pattern (Fig. 1). Fleas
were also found moving and jumping all over the animal
body. The blackish debris, “fleas dirt” (fleas feces) was also
observed on the skin at the base of the hair during physical
examination.
The faecal examination revealed presence of boiled rice like
gravid segments of Dipylidium caninum (Fig. 2). Deep skin
scrapings were also collected using blunt scalpel blade to rule
out mite infestation and it showed negative results.
The animal was having slightly elevated rectal temperature
while other physiological parameters viz., heart, pulse and
respiration rates were within the normal range. The animal
was active and alert with slightly pale mucous membrane.
Clinical findings, location of lesions, presence of adult fleas
(Ctenocephalides felis) on body and evidence of gravid
segments of Dipylidium caninum in the feces were suggestive
for concurrent FAD and Dipylidium caninum infestation in a
dog.
Treatment and Discussion
The dog was treated with Fipronil 0.25% (Fixotic) spray
topically once and tablet Praziquantel (Fentas plus) @10
mg/kg b.wt. once orally. Supportive therapy included anti-
histaminics for seven days along with multivitamins and
minerals supplement. Dog responded showing resolution of
clinical signs, decreased number of fleas and negative faecal
sample after seven days post treatment. The owner was also
advised to use flea collar and insecticide solution to clean
living and sleeping area's and wash all pets bedding to prevent
re-infestation. After a month owner informed that the dog has
completely recovered without any recurrence and thriving
well (Fig. 3).
Flea saliva contains histamine like compounds, proteolytic
enzymes and anticoagulants which can act as inflammatory or
antigenic stimuli in sensitive animals. Various immunologic
responses are provoked; including immediate hypersensitivity
reactions [5] late phase Ig E-mediated responses and cutaneous
basophils hypersensitivity reactions [6] and not delayed
hypersensitivity [7]. Infestation of tapeworm (D. caninum) in
dog is most possibly the consequence of C. canis infestation,
since this flea acts as an intermediate host for D. caninum.
Dipylidium caninum causes anal irritation as the highly motile
segments are passed; the dog may demonstrate discomfort by
dragging its anus along the ground, prompting the owner to
seek treatment for the animal [8, 9].
Noli and Beck [10], Hnilica [11], The Merck Veterinary Manual
[3] reported clinical signs as pruritus, excoriation,
hyperpigmented skin, scaling, erythema and alopecia,
involving the posterior and ventral parts of body and more
severe in warmer months. The presence of adult fleas
dorsolaterally on body surface with jumping movement was
recorded by Narang [12]. Similar findings were observed in the
present study. Demonstration of fleas or their feces can be
difficult because flea allergic dogs remove them from their
hair coat during excessive grooming [11]. In contrast, Soulsby
[13] reported blackish “fleas dirt” on the skin at the base of the
hair, which was also observed in our case. Khuly [14] reported
a typical “Christmas tree” pattern like alopecia mainly on
dorsal lumbosacral aspect which was also observed in our
study. Allergy testing is controversial in diagnosis of FAD
because of its poor reliability.
Fipronil is a GABA-gated chloride channel antagonist and has
advantage of killing adult flea, disrupting flea life cycle and
long residual activity following topical administration due to
accumulation in oil of skin and hair follicles, requiring less
frequent application [15], apart from its ease of application.
However, it lacks repellent action and has diminished efficacy
after bathing. Similarly, flea collars containing pyriproaifen
are ovicidal and larvicidal for fleas. Tiwari [16] and Narang [12]
treated the dog with Fipronil 0.25% along with Praziquantel
@10 mg/kg bt.wt. and reported its 100 percent efficacy.
Similar type of effective treatment was done in the present
study.
Within seven days after start of therapy there was significant
reduction in pruritus, restlessness and dog started feeding
properly. The lesions became normal and regrowth of hairs
started after a week and complete recovery was achieved after
a month post treatment.
Fig 1: Typical “Christmas Tree” pattern like alopecia mainly caudo-
dorsal and lumbosacral aspect
Fig 2: Boiled rice like gravid segments of Dipylidium caninum in
the feces

Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies http://www.entomoljournal.com
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Fig 3: Recovered dog after treatment
Conclusion
In the present case, concurrent FAD and Dipylidium caninum
infestation in a Pitbull dog treated with Fipronil 0.25% spray
topically once and tablet Praziquantel @10 mg/kg b.wt. orally
along with supportive therapy has showed good result without
any complication.
Acknowledgements
The author is thankful to the Principal, KCVAS, Amritsar for
providing necessary facilities to carry out this study.
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