Cranial Mesenteric Arterial Obstruction Due To Strongylus vulgaris Larvae in a Donkey (Equus asinus).
Abstract: Arteritis due to Strongylus vulgaris is a well-known cause of colic in horses and donkeys. The current report describes a fatal incidence of arterial obstruction in cranial mesenteric artery caused by S. vulgaris infection in an adult donkey in which anthelmintic treatment was not regularly administered. Necropsy findings of the abdominal cavity revealed a complete cranial mesenteric arterial obstruction due to larvae of S. vulgaris, causing severe colic. To the authors' knowledge, a complete cranial mesenteric arterial obstruction due to verminous arteritis has rarely been described in horses and donkeys. Based on recent reports of fatal arterial obstruction due to S. vulgaris infection in donkeys, it may be evident to consider acute colic caused by this pathogenic parasite a re-emerging disease in donkeys and horses.
Publication Date: 2015-02-14 PubMed ID: 25678931PubMed Central: PMC4316578
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research investigates a fatal case of arterial blockage in the cranial mesenteric artery due to the infection of Strongylus vulgaris in a donkey. The article suggests this type of parasitic infection, which causes severe colic, may be a re-emerging disease in donkeys and horses.
Understanding the Background
- Strongylus vulgaris, also known as the large strongyle or blood worm, is a type of parasitic nematode known to cause arteritis, or inflammation of the arteries, in horses and donkeys.
- This can lead to colic, a common digestive disorder in these animals characterized by severe abdominal discomfort.
- The disease caused by this pathogen is of significance due to its ability to obstruct or block the blood vessels, leading to potentially fatal consequences.
Necropsy Findings and Case Report
- In this particular case, a full-grown, adult donkey that had not routinely received anti-parasite treatment showed severe signs of colic.
- Upon death, a necropsy (an autopsy for animals) was performed and results demonstrated a complete blockage of the cranial mesenteric artery, a large blood vessel supplying the intestine, due to S. vulgaris larvae.
- This is a rare finding as complete blockage of this artery due to inflammatory response from parasitic infection is seldom reported in horses and donkeys.
Implications and Future Directions
- The existence and fatality of such an obstruction caused by S. vulgaris infection indicate that we might be dealing with a re-emerging disease in the population of horses and donkeys.
- Considering the potential severity of this parasite’s damage, there may be a heightened urgency for regular deworming treatments in these animals and further studies on the disease model.
Cite This Article
APA
Borji H, Moosavi Z, Ahmadi F.
(2015).
Cranial Mesenteric Arterial Obstruction Due To Strongylus vulgaris Larvae in a Donkey (Equus asinus).
Iran J Parasitol, 9(3), 441-444.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Dept. of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.
- Dept. of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.
- Dept. of Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.
References
This article includes 7 references
- Duncan JL, Pirie HM. The life cycle of Strongylus vulgaris in the horse. Res Vet Sci 1972;13:82–93.
- Kaplan RM. Anthelmintic resistance in nematodes of horses. Vet Res 2002;33:491–507.
- Hosseini SH, Meshgi B, Eslami A, Bokai S, Sobhani M, Ebrahimi Samani R. Prevalence and biodiversity of helminth parasites in donkeys (Equus asinus) in Iran. Int J Vet Res 2009;2:95–99.
- McCraw BM, Slocombe JOD. Strongylus vulgaris in the horse: a review. Can Vet J 1976;17:150–157.
- Reinemeyer CR, Nielsen MK. Parasitism and Colic. Vet Clin Equine 2009;25:233–45.
- Coles GC. Anthelmintic resistance looking at the future: a UK perspective. Res Vet Sci 2005;79:99–108.
- Duncan JL, Pirie HM. The pathogenesis of single experimental infections with Strongylus vulgaris in foals. Res Vet Sci 1975;18:82–93.
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Mohtasebi S, Ahn S, Karimi M, Saberi M, Gilleard JS, Poissant J. Enhanced detection of equine strongyles: Insights from morphological and nemabiome metabarcoding approaches in northern Iran. Equine Vet J 2026 Mar;58(2):508-522.
- Tharwat M, Al-Sobayil F. Equine colic: A comprehensive overview of the sonographic evaluation, diagnostic criteria, and management of different categories. Open Vet J 2025 Mar;15(3):1116-1139.
- El-Gameel SM, Al-Mokaddem AK, Salaeh NMK, Attia MM. Morphomolecular characterization of Strongylus vulgaris isolated from donkeys with special references to histopathological study on the affected organs. J Parasit Dis 2022 Sep;46(3):795-803.
- Hedberg-Alm Y, Tydén E, Tamminen LM, Lindström L, Anlén K, Svensson M, Riihimäki M. Clinical features and treatment response to differentiate idiopathic peritonitis from non-strangulating intestinal infarction of the pelvic flexure associated with Strongylus vulgaris infection in the horse. BMC Vet Res 2022 Apr 23;18(1):149.
- Ramalho Sousa S, Anastácio S, Nóvoa M, Paz-Silva A, Madeira de Carvalho LM. Gastrointestinal Parasitism in Miranda Donkeys: Epidemiology and Selective Control of Strongyles Infection in the Northeast of Portugal. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 11;11(1).
- Sazmand A, Bahari A, Papi S, Otranto D. Parasitic diseases of equids in Iran (1931-2020): a literature review. Parasit Vectors 2020 Nov 19;13(1):586.
- Khamesipour F, Taktaz-Hafshejani T, Tebit KE, Razavi SM, Hosseini SR. Prevalence of endo- and ecto-parasites of equines in Iran: A systematic review. Vet Med Sci 2021 Jan;7(1):25-34.
- Meigouni M, Makki M, Haniloo A, Askari Z, Mobedi I, Naddaf SR, Boenke N, Stollner T, Aali A, Heidari Z, Mowlavi G. Herbivores Coprolites from Chehrabad Salt Mine of Zanjan, Iran (Sassanid Era, 224-651 AD) Reveals Eggs of Strongylidae and Anoplocephalidae Helminths. Iran J Parasitol 2020 Jan-Mar;15(1):109-114.
- Hedberg-Alm Y, Penell J, Riihimäki M, Osterman-Lind E, Nielsen MK, Tydén E. Parasite Occurrence and Parasite Management in Swedish Horses Presenting with Gastrointestinal Disease-A Case-Control Study. Animals (Basel) 2020 Apr 7;10(4).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
