Anoplocephala perfoliata infestation and colics in horses

摘要

Intestinal distress represents one of the major cause of morbidity and mortality in horses and is consequently, one of the most significant factors of economic loss for breeders. Since the 1980’s several clinical reports have supplied a circumstantial evidence of a strong association between the presence of a large number of Anoplocephala perfoliata specimens and both specific surgical colics involving the ileo-caeco-colic tract and spasmodic colics, leading to an increase in attention the veterinary practitioners on the dangerousness of this tapeworm (Barclay et al. 1982; Beroza et al. 1983; Biglietti and Garbagnati 2002).