Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cecal rupture by Anoplocephala perfoliata infection in a thoroughbred horse in Seoul Race Park, South Korea.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary science
- Year:
- 2001
- Authors:
- Ryu, S H et al.
- Affiliation:
- Equine Hospital · South Korea
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old Thoroughbred horse was taken to the Equine Hospital in South Korea because it was showing signs of colic, which is a type of abdominal pain. Unfortunately, despite treatment, the horse's condition worsened, and it died just three hours after being sent home. An examination after death revealed that the horse's cecum, a part of the intestine, had a large rupture and was filled with fecal matter, along with many tapeworms in the affected area. The findings suggest that the tapeworm infection likely contributed to the horse's severe abdominal issues and eventual rupture. Overall, the treatment did not work, and the horse did not survive.
Abstract
A 7-year-old Thoroughbred horse was admitted to the Equine Hospital, Korea Racing Association with signs of colic. Based on the size of impactions, the clinical signs, the results of abdominal paracentesis and medical treatment, the prognosis was poor. The horse died 3 hours later following hopeless discharge. At necropsy, the caecum and large colon were fully filled with fecal contents and there was a rupture (10 cm in dia) in the latero- ventral caecum. The mucosa of the ileo-caecal and caeco- colic valves appeared to the hyperemic, edematous and ulcerous. There were many tapeworms in the affected mucosa. Histopathologically, lesions included hyperaemia, a deep necrotic inflammatory lesion and ulcers in the mucosa and submucosa of ileo-caecal and caeco-colic valves. One hundred thirty four faecal samples were obtained from 16 stables and submitted to parasitic examination. A total of 4 genera of eggs were recovered: Stongylus spp (82.1%), Anoplocephala perfoliata (10.5%), Bovicola equi (0.7%) and Parascaris equorum (1.5%). The major findings in this study are the presence of A perfoliata and its suspected association with the colic which led into an eventual caecal rupture. This study indicates the needs for an epidemiological survey of colic that is associated with Anoplocephala.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12441687/