Capillaria hepatica (Calodium hepaticum) infection in a horse: a case report.
Abstract: Capillaria hepatica is a zoonotic parasite in humans and animals and has a worldwide distribution. However, infections in mammals apart from rodents, which are natural hosts of the parasite, have rarely been reported. This report describes the first known case of C. hepatica infection in a horse in Japan. Methods: A 3-year-old filly without clinical signs was presented at a slaughterhouse in Japan. Gross examination revealed white to tan nodules 0.5 to 1.5 cm in diameter in the parenchyma of the liver. Histologically, the nodules had mature fibrous capsules and consisted of multifocal to coalescing granulomatous inflammations with numerous nematode eggs. The eggs were barrel shaped with an opercular plug on each end and double-layered shells; these findings are consistent with the features of C. hepatica eggs. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first case of C. hepatica infection in a horse in Japan. The pathological findings confirmed the presence of this pathogen in this part of the world, and they highlight the importance of this nematode in the differential diagnosis of hepatic granulomatous lesions in horses.
Publication Date: 2017-12-08 PubMed ID: 29221457PubMed Central: PMC5723056DOI: 10.1186/s12917-017-1301-3Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article presents the first reported case of a Capillaria hepatica infection, a zoonotic parasite, in a horse in Japan.
Overview of the Case
- The paper discusses the first known case of Capillaria hepatica, also known as Calodium hepaticum, infection found in a horse in Japan.
- The horse in question was a three-year-old filly (a young female horse) that showed no clinical signs of the disease and was presented at a slaughterhouse in Japan.
- Although Capillaria hepatica is a zoonotic parasite, meaning it is a parasite transmitted from animals to humans, infections are rarely reported in mammals other than rodents, which are the natural hosts of this parasite.
Findings in the Liver
- In a gross examination of the filly, the researchers found white to tan nodules, each between 0.5 to 1.5 cm in diameter, in the parenchyma (functional tissues) of the liver.
- Upon a more detailed histological examination, it was discovered that these nodules had mature fibrous capsules and consisted of multifocal to coalescing granulomatous inflammations with numerous nematode eggs.
Description of the Nematode Eggs
- The eggs of the Capillaria hepatica were barrel-shaped with a double-layered shell, featuring plugs on each end, known as opercular plugs. These characteristics are consistent with the typical features of nematode eggs.
Conclusion and Importance
- The paper concludes on the note that this is the first confirmed case of a horse in Japan being infected with Capillaria hepatica.
- This finding confirms the presence of this pathogen in this part of the world, which has implications for the many horse owners, farmers and veterinarians in Japan and possibly in neighboring countries as well.
- Furthermore, the discovery of Capillaria hepatica in a horse emphasizes the importance of considering this nematode in the differential diagnosis when hepatic granulomatous lesions are found in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Ochi A, Hifumi T, Ueno T, Katayama Y.
(2017).
Capillaria hepatica (Calodium hepaticum) infection in a horse: a case report.
BMC Vet Res, 13(1), 384.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-017-1301-3 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0412, Japan.
- Laboratory of Veterinary Histopathology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan.
- Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0412, Japan. ueno@equinst.go.jp.
- Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0412, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Capillaria
- Enoplida Infections / diagnosis
- Enoplida Infections / epidemiology
- Enoplida Infections / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Japan / epidemiology
- Liver / parasitology
- Liver / pathology
Conflict of Interest Statement
ETHICS APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE: The Japan Racing Association is a sporting authority; we collected clinical samples and performed the study as part of the Association’s regular disease-prevention activities. The study was approved by the Equine Research Institute of the Japan Racing Association. CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION: Not applicable. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
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