Biliary parascarosis in a foal.
Abstract: Migration of Ascaris lumbricoides through the papilla of Vater in humans, and entry into the biliary tree, is well-recognised. Ascaris suum and Toxocara vitulorum have been recovered from the liver of swine and buffalo. We necropsied a Persian Kurdish filly at age 6 months, weighing ∼100 kg. Death evidently was caused by oleander (Nerium oleander) intoxication. An 8-cm adult male Parascaris was found at the lobar-left hepatic bile duct junction. We suggest that the nematode entered anteriorly into the hepatic tree, via the duodenum, major duodenal papilla, bile duct, left hepatic duct and finally the lobar duct. Considering the brief 4-h elapsed time between death and necropsy, and the 18-cm distance from the major duodenal papilla to the location of the parasite, we conclude that entry into the biliary tree likely occurred ante-mortem. We advise consideration of Parascaris infection in differential diagnosis of equine hepatic and pancreatic dysfunction.
© 2023 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Publication Date: 2023-02-01 PubMed ID: 36723790PubMed Central: PMC10188052DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1087Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article investigates a case where a worm, a species of Parascaris, was discovered in the liver of a young horse that died of poisoning. The researchers theorize that the worm might have contributed to the horse’s health problems and advise that Parascaris infection be considered when diagnosing equine liver and pancreatic dysfunction.
Background of the Research
- This research builds on prior knowledge that certain types of worms, such as Ascaris lumbricoides in humans and Ascaris suum and Toxocara vitulorum in swine and buffalo, are known to migrate via the bile ducts into the liver.
The Case Study
- The study focuses on a six-month-old Persian Kurdish foal weighing approximately 100kg, which died due to oleander intoxication.
- Upon performing a necropsy, the authors discovered an 8-cm adult male Parascaris worm in the horse’s bile duct at the junction with the left lobar hepatic duct.
The Hypothesis
- The researchers suggest that the Parascaris worm likely entered the biliary system through the duodenum, a section of the small intestine, then travelled via the major duodenal papilla, bile duct, left hepatic duct, and finally reached the lobar duct.
- This conclusion is based on the 18-cm distance the worm would have to travel from the duodenal papilla to its final location and the short time span of 4 hours between the horse’s death and the necropsy.
Implications of the Study
- The discovery of the Parascaris in the liver prompts the authors to advise that such an infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of equine hepatic and pancreatic dysfunction. This means that horse handlers and veterinarians need to be aware of the possibility that a worm infection could cause or contribute to liver and pancreatic disease in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Sazmand A, Yavari M, Babaei M, Nourian A, Otranto D.
(2023).
Biliary parascarosis in a foal.
Vet Med Sci, 9(3), 1149-1153.
https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.1087 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Humans
- Animals
- Horses
- Female
- Swine
- Biliary Tract
- Liver
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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