Strongyloidosis, Animals

Pathology

Ruminants

Strongyloides papillosus occurs in cattle, sheep, and goats. This nematode lives in tunnels within the epithelium of the villi of the anterior part of the small intestine. Severe infections cause villous atrophy, with a loss of plasma proteins and a reduced activity of several enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, lactase, saccharase and maltase). Clinical outbreaks principally affect young suckling animals. Signs include anorexia, loss of weight, diarrhoea (rarely haemorrhagic), dehydration, slight to moderate anaemia. Severe infections may be fatal. Studies in Japan demonstrated that S. papillosus could cause sudden death in calves.

Horses

The only species in the small intestine of horses is Strongyloides westeri (Alimentary System Diseases, Ruminants). Clinical outbreaks principally affect young suckling foals. Signs include anorexia, loss of weight, coughing, diarrhoea (rarely haemorrhagic), dehydration, slight to moderate anaemia. Severe infections may be fatal.

Carnivores...