Synonyms

Name of the disease in English

Esophagitis/ Hypoderma migrating larvae or other causes

The disease in brief

 In areas infested with Hypoderma lineatum, stage-1 larvae spend the winter in the submucosa of the esophagus; infestation by very numerous larvae, but above all active treatment on Hypoderma by causing the death of the larvae to trigger local inflammation; this is an Arthus phenomenon that induces edema and hemorrhages in the submucosa. It causes pain, salivation and difficulty/inability to swallow. France is free of this parasite, but re-infestation is not impossible.

Clinic & diagnosis

The disease can be suspected:

-in an area infested by Hypoderma lineatum ;

-during the winter season, when the larvae are present in the esophagus; active treatment on Hypoderma was carried out in the previous days or weeks

-on an animal that is drooling or has difficulty eating combined with pain when palpating the cervical esophagus.

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

– Chronic esophageal obstruction N275                                                                                                                                             

- Acute pharyngitis (post-traumatic or other) RS19.1

Confirm a suspicion?

Take blood in a dry tube and ask the laboratory for a serological test-Hypoderma.

Prognosis and treatment

An injectable anti-inflammatory is recommended for 3 to 4 days. Recovery is possible if the number of larvae and their size are limited. A very high number of larvae and late treatment on large larvae are factors that reduce the chances of recovery.

Prevention

In areas heavily infested with Hypoderma lineatum, avoid treatments carried out late when the larvae establish themselves in the submucosa of the esophagus.

References

Veterinary Medicine-Pocket companion -9th Edition BLOOD DC-page 69