Document Type : Case Report
Authors
1
Diagnostic Pathology, Faculty of Pathology, Zaria Study Centre, College of Veterinary Surgeon Nigeria; Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria
2
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria; Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University Wukari, Nigeria
3
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria
Abstract
The carcass of a three-month-old Nigerian indigenous puppy (3 kg), with no vaccination history, was presented to the Necropsy Unit of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. Prior to death, the clinical observations were worms in vomitus and bloody diarrhoea, and the medications administered were gentamicin injection and praziquantel tablet. On postmortem examination, the findings were severe emaciation, rough hair coat, adhesion of the skin to the muscles, markedly sunken eyeballs, pale ocular mucous membranes, ballooning, presence of worms (Toxocara canis) in the lumen, and extensive serosal and mucosal haemorrhages of the intestine, thickened intestinal mucosa with nodular growths, mottled enlarged and congested liver, cardiomegaly with serous atrophy of pericardial fat and endocardial petechial haemorrhage, and adhesion of renal capsule. In conclusion, the necropsy findings revealed severe toxocariosis, marked intestinal haemorrhages, and multi-organ involvement, consistent with severe systemic parasitism and malnutrition. Hence there is need for regular deworming and timely vaccination in puppies to prevent severe parasitic infections and associated systemic complications.
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