Arteritis, aneurysm and thromboembolic colic caused by migration of Strongylus vulgaris larvae in equids.
Authors: Souto E P F, Dantas V W, Oliveira A M, Garcia D S, Vilela V L R, Neto E G Miranta, Mota R A, Dantas A F M
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Strongylus vulgaris-Associated Vascular Disease in Equids Strongylus vulgaris larvae migration continues to pose a significant threat to equine health, particularly in regions where deworming protocols remain inconsistent, yet the full spectrum of vascular complications remains underappreciated in clinical practice. Brazilian researchers conducted a 24-year retrospective necropsy analysis of 938 equids to characterise the epidemiological and pathological features of S. vulgaris-induced cranial mesenteric artery (CMA) lesions, identifying such pathology in 54 animals (5.7%)—predominantly horses (45 cases) but also affecting donkeys and mules across a wide age range (3 months to 30 years). Segmental focal arterial thickening dominated the gross findings (92.6%), whilst aneurysms occurred in 7.4% of cases, with histopathology confirming endarteritis, fibrinocellular thrombi, and intralesional larvae; remarkably, 98.1% were incidental findings, with only one case presenting as fatal thromboembolic colic. These findings underscore that verminous arteritis should feature prominently in the differential diagnosis of colic and vascular compromise, particularly in endemic regions, and highlight the clinical importance of thorough CMA examination during laparotomies—a consideration often overlooked when S. vulgaris is dismissed as solely a cause of clinical colic through larval migration-induced thrombosis.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Include S. vulgaris-associated vascular disease in the differential diagnosis for colic cases, particularly thromboembolic colic in undewormed or inadequately dewormed horses from endemic regions
- •Implement or improve deworming protocols in semi-intensive management systems where this parasite remains prevalent, as most lesions go undetected until necropsy
- •During post-mortem examination or exploratory laparotomy in equids from endemic areas, specifically examine the cranial mesenteric artery for segmental thickening or aneurysms suggestive of verminous arteritis
Key Findings
- •Of 938 necropsied equids, 54 (5.7%) had cranial mesenteric artery lesions associated with S. vulgaris, predominantly in horses (83.3%) from northeastern Brazil
- •Gross lesions included segmental focal thickening (92.6%) or aneurysms (7.4%), with histopathology revealing endarteritis, fibrinocellular thrombi, and intralesional S. vulgaris larvae
- •Nearly all cases (98.1%) were incidental necropsy findings except for one fatal thromboembolic colic, with most affected equids raised under semi-intensive management systems
- •Verminous lesions by S. vulgaris present a significant but often undiagnosed cause of vascular abnormalities in equids from endemic regions with insufficient deworming practices