J Vet Sci.  2001 Dec;2(3):189-193.

Cecal rupture by Anoplocephala perfoliata infection in a thoroughbred horse in Seoul Race Park, South Korea

• Ryu SH
• Bak UB
• Kim JG
• Yoon HJ
• Seo HS
• Kim JT
• Park JY
• Lee CW

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.

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cecal Diseases/etiology/pathology/*veterinary
Cestoda
Cestode Infections/complications/pathology/*veterinary
Colic/etiology/*veterinary
Fatal Outcome
Fecal Impaction/complications/parasitology/veterinary
Feces/parasitology
Horse Diseases/etiology/*parasitology/pathology
Horses
Ileocecal Valve/parasitology/pathology
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/parasitology/pathology/*veterinary
Intestinal Mucosa/parasitology/pathology
Korea
Parasite Egg Count/veterinary
Prognosis
Rupture, Spontaneous/pathology/veterinary