Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
ECHINOCOCCUS EQUINUS HYDATID CYST IN THE LIVER OF A PRZEWALSKI'S HORSE ( EQUUS PRZEWALSKII) IN A CANADIAN ZOO.
- Journal:
- Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
- Year:
- 2018
- Authors:
- Milnes, Ellie et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 23-year-old female Przewalski's horse at a Canadian zoo had to be euthanized due to severe abdominal pain caused by a rupture in her intestine. During the examination, veterinarians discovered a larval tapeworm inside a lump in her liver. Tests confirmed that this tapeworm was Echinococcus equinus, marking the first time this species has been identified in North America and the first case of this type of infection in a Przewalski's horse.
Abstract
A 23-yr-old captive-born Przewalski's horse mare ( Equus przewalskii) was euthanized at a Canadian zoo because of severe colic resulting from rupture of a jejunal pseudodiverticulum. An incidental finding of an encysted larval cestode within a hepatic granuloma was diagnosed on histopathology. Gel-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on liver tissue was positive for Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, and deoxyribonucleic acid sequencing of the PCR product was 100% homologous with Echinococcus equinus. This appears to be the first molecular confirmation of E. equinus in North America, and the first report of cystic echinococcosis in a Przewalski's horse.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30592924/