Nefrotomia na Dioctofimatose em cães: Aspectos clínicos, diagnósticos, cirúrgicos e anatomopatológicos

Abstract

Dioctophymatosis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by the nematode Dioctophyme renale , which primarily affects dogs, especially those in vulnerable situations with unselective dietary and water habits. The parasite preferentially migrates to the right kidney, causing progressive destruction of the renal parenchyma, but can also affect other organs. Clinical signs are often nonspecific or absent, making diagnosis challenging. It is mainly performed through ultrasonography, which allows visualization of structures compatible with parasitism within the kidney or in ectopic regions. Treatment is exclusively surgical, with nephrectomy being the most common approach in cases of complete renal destruction. However, nephrotomy emerges as a viable alternative in early diagnoses, allowing for parasite removal and partial preservation of renal tissue. The aim of this study was to report, through a retrospective study, the nephrotomy procedures performed for the treatment of dioctophymatosis at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Federal University of Pelotas between 2017 and 2024. Additionally, a study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of nephrotomy through histopathological analyses of the preserved kidney, carried out during the procedure and 17 months after surgical treatment. Article 1 describes the retrospective analysis of 18 dogs infected with D. renale in the right kidney, who underwent nephrotomy. Article 2 analyzed seven biopsies collected during nephrotomy, correlating histopathological findings with clinical data from the dogs. Article 3 presents a case report of a dog treated for dioctophymatosis, comparing the biopsy collected during nephrotomy with a new biopsy performed 17 months after treatment, aiming to assess the evolution of renal tissue after an extended recovery period.In the analyzed period, 18 nephrotomies were performed, the largest number of cases reported to date. Histopathological analyses of biopsies collected during nephrotomy revealed lesions such as fibrosis, tubular necrosis, hemorrhagic foci, inflammatory infiltrate, vascular hypertrophy, and fibroplasia. Despite these alterations, all samples showed some level of parenchymal preservation, with viable nephrons. Furthermore, the biopsy analyzed after 17 months showed significant improvement in the inflammatory and hemorrhagic processes observed in the previous biopsy, with viable nephrons. These findings indicate that nephrotomy is an effective therapeutic option to preserve renal function in selected cases.