Nonstrangulating intestinal infarction associated with Strongylus vulgaris in referred Danish equine cases.

Summary

# Editorial Summary Although *Strongylus vulgaris* has long been implicated in equine colic through historical case reports and controlled studies in naive foals, its contemporary role in naturally acquired disease remains poorly characterised. This Danish retrospective analysis examined referred horses presenting with colic to determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of nonstrangulating intestinal infarction (NSII) associated with *S. vulgaris* infection. The researchers identified cases where larval migration had caused intestinal ischaemia and infarction, establishing a direct pathological link between this parasite and a specific colic phenotype in clinical populations. Findings suggest that whilst *S. vulgaris* remains a genuine cause of serious colic requiring surgical intervention, its relative importance has likely diminished compared to historical perspectives, though resistance patterns and management practices warrant consideration when evaluating individual cases. For practitioners, this work reinforces the continued relevance of targeted strongyle control programmes and the importance of considering parasitic aetiology—particularly in horses with risk factors for suboptimal anthelmintic compliance—when investigating cases of acute abdominal disease and colic with no obvious mechanical explanation.

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Key Findings

• •Strongylus vulgaris migrating larvae cause ischaemia and infarction of intestinal segments in horses
• •Parasite was historically considered the primary cause of colic but current association with different colic types remains unclear
• •Study based on referred Danish equine cases with nonstrangulating intestinal infarction

Conditions Studied

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