Background. Urinary capillariosis in dogs is caused by Capillaria plica (syn.
Pearsonema plica), a ubiquitous parasitic nematode resembling a string which
belongs to the family Capillariidae. It parasitizes the feline, canine and
musteline urinary bladder, and has been found in ureters and renal pelvises
as well. C. plica has an indirect life cycle, with earthworms (Lumbricina)
as intermediate hosts and domestic and wild animals (dog, cat, fox and wolf)
as primary hosts. Infection of primary hosts occurs via ingestion of
earthworms that contain infective first stadium (L1) larvae. An alternative
path of infection for primary hosts is assumed to be ingestion of soil
contaminated by infectious larvae derived from decomposed earthworms.
Infection is mostly asymptomatic, but the clinical picture presents with
pollakiuria, dysuria, haematuria, polydipsia, incontinence and/or fever.
Scope and Approach. The aim of this review is to highlight the importance of
urinary capillariosis in dogs. Since the health care of wild and domestic
carnivores is extremely important, this review provides information about
the morphology, biology and epizootiology of the C. plica nematode. Due to
the importance of this disease for clinicians and increased disease
prevalence during the last decade in many countries, this review presents
the latest information on the pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of this infection. Key Findings and Conclusions.
Capillariosis is usually accidentally diagnosed due to the nonspecific
clinical signs and there is no treatment of choice. Practitioners should
consider latent urinary capillariosis infection as a possible cause while
examining for urinary tract diseases.