Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Capillaria hepatica (Calodium hepaticum) infection in a horse: a case report.
- Journal:
- BMC veterinary research
- Year:
- 2017
- Authors:
- Ochi, Akihiro et al.
- Affiliation:
- Equine Research Institute · Japan
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old female horse, known as a filly, was found at a slaughterhouse in Japan and showed no signs of illness. During a thorough examination, veterinarians discovered small white to tan lumps in the liver, which were later identified as signs of a parasitic infection caused by Capillaria hepatica, a type of roundworm. The findings included eggs that matched the characteristics of this parasite. This case is significant because it marks the first reported instance of this infection in a horse in Japan, emphasizing the need for awareness of this parasite when diagnosing liver issues in horses.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Capillaria hepatica is a zoonotic parasite in humans and animals and has a worldwide distribution. However, infections in mammals apart from rodents, which are natural hosts of the parasite, have rarely been reported. This report describes the first known case of C. hepatica infection in a horse in Japan. CASE PRESENTATION: A 3-year-old filly without clinical signs was presented at a slaughterhouse in Japan. Gross examination revealed white to tan nodules 0.5 to 1.5 cm in diameter in the parenchyma of the liver. Histologically, the nodules had mature fibrous capsules and consisted of multifocal to coalescing granulomatous inflammations with numerous nematode eggs. The eggs were barrel shaped with an opercular plug on each end and double-layered shells; these findings are consistent with the features of C. hepatica eggs. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first case of C. hepatica infection in a horse in Japan. The pathological findings confirmed the presence of this pathogen in this part of the world, and they highlight the importance of this nematode in the differential diagnosis of hepatic granulomatous lesions in horses.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29221457/