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Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology2023; 47(2); 442-450; doi: 10.1007/s12639-023-01581-y

A case of chronic schistosomiasis in a Dongola stallion (Equus ferus caballus Linnaeus, 1758) from Nigeria.

Abstract: Schistosomiasis is a worldwide snail-borne parasitic infestation of man and animals with acute or chronic phases having devastating sequelae. The present case report focused on post-mortem examination of a cachexic Dongola stallion ( Linnaeus, 1758) in Abuja, Nigeria, that failed to respond to treatment. Typical dense collagenous granulomatous lesions with marked inflammatory responses and fibrosis occurred in the liver and several visceral organs of the horse along with other lesions indicative of systemic collapse. Special Ziehl-Neelsen and Periodic Acid-Schiff staining as well as microbial culture returned negative results to rule out acid-fast bacilli, fungal, and other bacterial involvement. In addition, the presence of a yellowish-brown eggshell within fibrosing granulomatous lesions led to the diagnosis of chronic schistosomiasis. Prolonged malnutrition under harsh and changing increment weather conditions with lack of medical care following the infection might have predisposed the horse to the recorded systemic collapse in the present case. The dearth of information on the ante-mortem evaluation of acute equine schistosomiasis cases notwithstanding, the observed lesions/cellular changes reinforced  associated multi-organ damages and systemic collapse in chronic cases. Our findings highlighted the pathological presentations and prognosis of chronic schistosomiasis and its triggers, especially in endemic areas, and in horses that often do not present obvious clinical manifestations.
© Indian Society for Parasitology 2023.
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Publication Date: 2023-04-08 PubMed ID: 37193489PubMed Central: PMC10182229DOI: 10.1007/s12639-023-01581-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This paper documents a case of chronic schistosomiasis found during the post-mortem examination of a sickly Dongola stallion in Nigeria that could not be helped with treatment. The researchers found extensive damage to the horse’s internal organs caused by the parasitic infection and related complications. The horse’s poor health condition and lack of veterinary care likely made it more susceptible to a severe outcome.

Case Study

  • The subject of this study was a Dongola stallion in Abuja, Nigeria, who had been failing to respond to treatments and was in poor physical condition.
  • The horse was found to have suffered from a host of ailments as revealed by the examination done after its death.
  • Among these, the most significant was chronic schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease affecting humans and animals globally. The disease is transmitted through snails and can lead to severe health complications.

Observations from the Post-Mortem Examination

  • The researchers found dense collagenous granulomatous lesions in the liver and various other internal organs of the horse, indicating a serious inflammatory response and fibrosis, or thickening and scarring, due to the infection.
  • A yellowish-brown eggshell was also found within these fibrosing granulomatous lesions, leading to the diagnosis of chronic schistosomiasis.
  • Additional staining and culture tests ruled out the involvement of acid-fast bacilli, fungi, or other bacteria.
  • The horse also displayed signs of systemic collapse, believed to be a result of the chronic schistosomiasis and other associated complications.

Contributing Factors

  • The researchers noted that harsh and changing weather conditions, combined with the horse’s prolonged malnutrition and absence of medical care, perhaps increased its vulnerability to such a severe systemic collapse after being infected.

Significance of the Findings

  • The study reveals the potential damage chronic schistosomiasis can cause to multiple organs and how it can lead to systemic collapse in severe cases.
  • It highlights the importance of vigilance especially in endemic areas and the need for early treatment, particularly in horses, where the clinical symptoms might not always be apparent.

Cite This Article

APA
Abalaka SE, Audu Z, Kolawole VO, Adeyemo BT, Idoko IS, Okafor ROS, Oyelowo-Abdulraheem FO, Tags SZ, Ogbe AO, Sanni S, Jegede OC, Sani NA, Tenuche OZ, Tizhe EV, Ejeh SA, Zachariya E. (2023). A case of chronic schistosomiasis in a Dongola stallion (Equus ferus caballus Linnaeus, 1758) from Nigeria. J Parasit Dis, 47(2), 442-450. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-023-01581-y

Publication

Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
ISSN: 0971-7196
NlmUniqueID: 9713059
Country: India
Language: English
Volume: 47
Issue: 2
Pages: 442-450

Researcher Affiliations

Abalaka, Samson Eneojo
  • Abuja, Nigeria Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja.
Audu, Zakariya
  • Abuja, Nigeria Department of Animal Health and Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja.
Kolawole, Victor Olumayowa
  • Abuja, Nigeria Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja.
Adeyemo, Bolade Thomas
  • Abuja, Nigeria Department of Animal Health and Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja.
Idoko, Idoko Sunday
  • Abuja, Nigeria Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja.
Okafor, Richard Oluchukwu Sunday
  • Abuja, Nigeria Department of Veterinary Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja.
Oyelowo-Abdulraheem, Fatima Oyenike
  • Abuja, Nigeria Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja.
Tags, Sam Zachariya
  • Abuja, Nigeria Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja.
Ogbe, Adamu Okuwa
  • Abuja, Nigeria Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja.
Sanni, Saka
  • Abuja, Nigeria Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja.
Jegede, Olorunfemi Cornelius
  • Abuja, Nigeria Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja.
Sani, Nuhu Abdulazeez
  • Abuja, Nigeria Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja.
Tenuche, Oremeyi Zaynab
  • Abuja, Nigeria Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja.
Tizhe, Emmanuel Vandi
  • Jos, Nigeria Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos.
Ejeh, Sunday Augustine
  • Abuja, Nigeria Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja.
Zachariya, Esther
  • Abuja, Nigeria Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Abuja.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Conflict of interestThe authors declare no conflict of interest.

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