Gastrointestinal impaction by Parascaris equorum in a Thoroughbred foal in Jeju, Korea

A weanling Thoroughbred foal was admitted to Equine Hospital, Korea Racing Association with signs of colic. On admission the foal was sweating profusely, appeared anxious and exhibiting signs suggestive of abdominal pain. Clinical examination revealed: tachycardia (90 beats/min), tachypnea (50 breaths/min) and congested and slightly cyanotic mucous membranes. No intestinal sounds were auscultated in all 4 abdominal quadrants. Rectal palpation identified concurrent cecum and large colon impactions. Treatment consisted of intravenous administration of a balanced electrolyte solution, nasogastric siphonage and administration of analgesics. Nasogastric reflux contained ascarids. This treatment failed to alleviate the signs of colic. The foal died 3 hours later following discharge because the owner didn't want laparatomy because of economic constraints. Prior to admission this foal had not received any prophylactic anthelmintic treatment. In necropsy, there were masses of ascarids accumulation in the stomach, small intestine and large intestine. The outcome of this report is to describe the first diagnosed case of gastrointestinal impaction by P. equorum in a Thoroughbred foal in South Korea and indicates the importance of regular anthelmintic treatment.

A hematogenic pleuropneumonia caused by postoperative septic thrombophlebitis in a Thoroughbred gelding

A 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was admitted to Equine Hospital, Korea Racing Association for evaluation and treatment of colic. Based on the size and duration of the large colonic and cecal impaction, a routine ventral midline celiotomy and large colon enterotomy were performed to relieve the impaction. Six days following surgery the gelding exhibited signs of lethargy, fever, inappetence and diarrhea. Eleven days following surgery, the jugular veins showed a marked thrombophlebitis. On the sixteenth day of hospitalization the gelding died suddenly. Upon physical examination, the horse was febrile, tachycardic and tachypnoeic. Thoracic excursion appeared to be increased; however, no abnormal lung sounds were detected. No cough or nasal discharge was present. Hematology revealed neutrophilic leukocytosis. Serum biochemistry was normal but plasma fibrinogen increased. In necropsy, fibrinopurulent fluid was present in the thoracic cavity. There were firm adhesions between visceral pleura and thoracic wall. White, mixed and red thrombi were formed in both jugular veins from the insertion point of IV catheter. Histopathological examination showed fibrinopurulent inflammation and vascular thrombosis in the lung. The pleura showed edematous thickening and severe congestion. The clinicopathological and pathological findings suggest that septic thrombi associated with septic thrombophlebitis metastasized into the pulmonary circulation and were entrapped in the pulmonary parenchyma and provoked pleuropneumonia.

Cholelithiasis associated with recurrent colic in a Thoroughbred mare

A 13-year-old Thoroughbred mare, retired from race, was admitted to Equine Hospital, Korea Racing Association with signs of colic. One and a half months following the previous treatment (second time) and 11 days following her previous discharge (third time), the mare repeatedly exhibited signs of colic and finally along with icteric eyes. Routine medical treatment with intravenous fluids, analgesics resulted in resolution of signs of colic in the first and second admission. The condition of the mare did not improve in the third admission despite over one month supportive treatment and she was subject to euthanasia at the request of the owner on the thirtyeighth day of hospitalization (95 days from her first admission). The clinical signs (fever, icterus, mild intermittent colic) in conjunction with clinical laboratory findings (leukocytosis, elevations of serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transferase, creatine phosphokinase, lactic dehydrogenase and blood fibrinogen indicative of obstructive biliary disease) in this mare suggested possible chlolelithiasis. However, liver enzymes and bilirubin estimations are often not part of routine screening in emergency colic cases. At necropsy, multiple dark brown choleliths of various sizes obstructing hepatopancreatic ampulla were found in the hepatic duct. The choleliths were found as large as 3-5 cm in diameter, faceted to each other, dark brown in color and showed soap consistency. Histopathologic findings revealed: biliary fibrosis, plugging of the bile canaliculi with bile pigments, cholangiohepatitis and pigmentation of the hepatic lymph node with bile pigment laden macrophages. Although definitive diagnosis of cholelithiasis might be challenging, clinicians should consider this condition in the differential diagnosis of recurrent colic.

Cecal rupture by Anoplocephala perfoliata infection in a thoroughbred horse in Seoul Race Park, South Korea

A 7-year-old Thoroughbred horse was admitted to the Equine Hospital, Korea Racing Association with signs of colic. Based on the size of impactions, the clinical signs, the results of abdominal paracentesis and medical treatment, the prognosis was poor. The horse died 3 hours later following hopeless discharge. At necropsy, the caecum and large colon were fully filled with fecal contents and there was a rupture (10 cm in dia) in the latero- ventral caecum. The mucosa of the ileo-caecal and caeco- colic valves appeared to the hyperemic, edematous and ulcerous. There were many tapeworms in the affected mucosa. Histopathologically, lesions included hyperaemia, a deep necrotic inflammatory lesion and ulcers in the mucosa and submucosa of ileo-caecal and caeco-colic valves. One hundred thirty four faecal samples were obtained from 16 stables and submitted to parasitic examination. A total of 4 genera of eggs were recovered: Stongylus spp (82.1%), Anoplocephala perfoliata (10.5%), Bovicola equi (0.7%) and Parascaris equorum (1.5%). The major findings in this study are the presence of A perfoliata and its suspected association with the colic which led into an eventual caecal rupture. This study indicates the needs for an epidemiological survey of colic that is associated with Anoplocephala.

An outbreak of malaria in penguins at the Farm-land Zoo

In June of 1983 authors had investigated the occurrence of the avian malaria in the Humboldt penguins imported from Japan to the Farm-land Zoo in central district of Korea. The disease was characterized by acute course and high mortality. The peripheral blood smears from the affected penguins demonstrated different developmental stages of Plasmodium sp. in the mature erythrocytes. The predominant gross lesions noticed were pulmonary and epicardial edema and hepato-splenomegaly. Microscopically the lesions were characterized by extensive reticuloendothelial cell hyperplasia with striking feature of exoerythrocytic schizogony affecting a variety of tissues. The report also signifies the first description of a disastrous epizootic of avian malaria in Korea.

Studies on bovine besnoitiosis in Korea II. A survey on incidence in the enzootic region

The 4,725 cattle in the enzootic region, 6 counties of southern Korea, were surveyed for besnoitiosis epidemiologically by examining the scleral conjunctiva for the cysts and the following results were obtained. The survey showed that 285 cattle, representing 6 per cent of a total of 4,725 cattle examined had S.C. cysts. Only 49 (14 per cent) of them showed clinical sclerodermatitis and the ratio between clinical and inapparent cases was 1:5.8. On age distribution of the S.C. positive cases the highest incidence(10-12 per cent) was seen in amimals that were from 5 to 8 years of age, but clinically apparent cases occurred much more in younger age of animal. In local incidence of S.C. cysts positive cases the prevalence was higher in the secluded districts such as Koheung and Sancheoung counties(9 per cent).