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.

Albendazole in the treatment of opisthorchiasis and concomitant intestinal helminthic infections.

A total of 52 adult patients with opisthorchiasis with or without concomitant intestinal helminthic infections were treated with albendazole at dosage regimens of 400 mg twice daily for 3 days (group I with 25 patients) and 7 days (group II 27 patients). By concentration method with four examinations from two faecal specimens of each patient the cure rates and percentage egg reduction on day 30 in group I and group II were 12% and 33%, 94 and 95 respectively; by Stoll method the cure rates and percentage egg reduction were 40% and 63%, 92 and 92 in group I and group II, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the results of the two regimens. Twenty six patients with hookworm and 9 patients with S. stercolaris infections were cured. Opisthorchis viverrini, N. americanus, A. duodenale, A. ceylanicum, E. malayanum, E. ilocanum, S. stercolaris, E. vermicularis, and T. saginata segments were expelled in stools, mostly on days 1 to 4. Most of the patients felt relieved from symptoms of pain in the right hypochondrium and epigastrium. The side effects were mild and transient. There were no evidence of toxic effects on the bone marrow, heart, liver or kidneys. Albendazole was shown to be effective against Opisthorchis viverrini infection as well as other concomitant intestinal helminthic infections; but the optimal dosage and duration of treatment have not yet been achieved.