Linguatula serrata in dogs: raw offal and zoonosis
3-year-old Mastiff that guards a flock of sheep in Extremadura and is fed raw offal from slaughtered animals by the shepherd. He has sneezing, nasal discharge and occasional epistaxis. At rhinoscopy a flattened, whitish, tongue-shaped parasite several centimetres long is removed.
Which statement is correct?
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A. It is Linguatula serrata, a pentastomid the dog acquires by eating raw ruminant offal containing nymphs; it is zoonotic and prevented by not feeding raw offal
Correct. Nymphs lodge in mesenteric lymph nodes, liver or lungs of sheep, goats and other herbivores. The dog sheds eggs in nasal secretions and faeces, which can infect people and ruminants; people can also be infected by eating raw offal containing nymphs.
B. It is Eucoleus boehmi, transmitted by ingesting earthworms
E. boehmi is a thread-like nematode, not a flattened, tongue-shaped parasite several centimetres long.
C. It is a fly larva (nasal myiasis) with no risk to people; it only needs removing
The description and the history of eating raw offal fit Linguatula, which is of zoonotic importance.
D. It is unrelated to diet; it is acquired by contact with other dogs in the flock
The dog must ingest the nymphs present in the offal of intermediate hosts. Cutting access to raw offal is the key measure.
lightbulb Key takeaway
Feeding raw offal to dogs also perpetuates hydatid disease and Taenia. In rural dogs, insist on cooking or destroying offal and on hand hygiene. Linguatula can be removed mechanically, and macrocyclic lactones have been used to treat it.
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Updated: October 31, 2026 · Educational content for veterinary professionals. It does not replace current clinical guidelines or the judgement of the attending veterinarian.