Korean J Parasitol.  2017 Dec;55(6):667-671. 10.3347/kjp.2017.55.6.667.

First Blindness Cases of Horses Infected with Setaria Digitata (Nematoda: Filarioidea) in the Republic of Korea

• Shin J
• Ahn KS
• Suh GH
• Kim HJ
• Jeong HS
• Kim BS
• Choi E
• Shin SS

• KMID: 2403719
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2017.55.6.667

Abstract

Ocular setariases of cattle were reported but those of equine hosts have never been reported in the Republic of Korea (Korea). We found motile worms in the aqueous humor of 15 horses (Equus spp.) from 12 localities in southern parts of Korea between January 2004 and November 2017. After the affected animals were properly restrained under sedation and local anesthesia, 10 ml disposable syringe with a 16-gauge needle was inserted into the anterior chamber of the affected eye to successfully remove the parasites. The male worm that was found in 7 of the cases showed a pair of lateral appendages near the posterior terminal end of the body. The papillar arrangement was 3 pairs of precloacal, a pair of adcloacal, and 3 pairs of postcloacal papillae, plus a central papilla just in front of the cloaca. The female worms found in the eyes of 8 horses were characterized by the tapering posterior terminal end of the body with a smooth knob. Worms were all identified as Setaria digitata (von Linstow, 1906) by the morphologic characteristics using light and electron microscopic observations. This is the first blindness cases of 15 horses infected with S. digitata (Nematoda: Filarioidea) in Korea.

Keyword

Setaria digitata; ocular setariasis; horse blindness; corneal opacification; Korea

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, Local
Animals
Anterior Chamber
Aqueous Humor
Blindness*
Cattle
Cloaca
Female
Horses*
Humans
Korea
Male
Needles
Parasites
Republic of Korea*
Setariasis
Syringes