Pathological alterations caused by Anoplocephala perfoliata infection in the ileocaecal junction of equids.

摘要

The pathological changes caused by A. perfoliata in the ileocaecal junction of 28 equids slaughtered in an abattoir in Madrid (Central Spain) are described. The lesions were scored in grades based on the severity of the damage and were related to the tapeworm number observed. The first grade (grade I) of changes consisted of a slight enteritis associated with focal erosions in 12 (43%) of parasitized animals with low parasitic burden (1-26 tapeworms). The second grade (grade II) was a focal pseudomembranous enteritis, present in the ileocaecal junctions of 10 (36%) infected animals with moderate to high burden (23-188 tapeworms), and the third grade (grade III) was a regional necrotizing enteritis, present in the 6 (21%) animals with the highest burden (72-248 tapeworms). The role of the lesions caused by this parasite in the aetiology of colic is discussed.