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Year 2012 - Volume 32, Number 5
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Foal mortality associated with Strongyloides westeri parasitism, 32(5):401-404
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ABSTRACT.- Lucena R.B., Fighera R.A. & Barros C.S.L. 2012. [Foal mortality associated with Strongyloides westeri parasitism.] Mortalidade em potros associada ao parasitismo por Strongyloides westeri. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 32(5):401-404. Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil. E-mail: claudioslbarros@uol.com.br
An outbreak of Strongyloides westeri infection in foals is described. Five out six weanling thoroughbred foals developed diarrhea, loss of weight, hipoalbuminemia and anemia. Large numbers nematode eggs were detected in the feces of two of those foals. Three foals died naturally and a fourth was euthanized in extremis. Necropsy findings from three foals were subcutaneous edema, ascites, hydrothorax and petechiae in the duodenal mucosa. Histologically, changes were restricted to the duodenum and were characterized by villous atrophy and limphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate in the lamina propria. In the villous tips there were multiple small cavities filled by nematode parasites and embryonated eggs. Based on the epidemiology, morphological characteristics of the nematodes and necropsy finds from the necropsy of three affected foals, a diagnosis of S. westeri infection was made. |
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