Document Type : Clinical Report
Author
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Van Yuzuncu Yil University TR- 65080, Van, Turkey
Abstract
Linguatulosis can infect most ruminants and cause accidental infections in humans. Linguatula serrata is the causative parasite of Linguatulosis, a disease that not only produces economic losses in cattle but also represents a public health risk due to its zoonotic nature. This study aimed to explore the clinical and pathologic findings of pulmonary linguatulosis in a rabbit. The most striking clinical findings in the deceased rabbits were wheezing and labored breathing. Grossly, the most prominent morphological changes in the lungs were well-circumscribed, flat or slightly raised, solitary grayish-white nodular lesions and consolidated areas. The developmental forms of parasite with characteristically tongue-shaped were observed on cut surface of the lung. Histopathologically, the most striking morphological changes in the lung parenchyma were diffuse thickening of the interalveolar septum, fibrinoid necrotic vasculitis, hypertrophy of the medial smooth muscle cells of the arteries, alveolar emphysema, longitudinal and transverse sections of L. serrata nymphs and extramedullary hematopoietic foci (megakaryocytes). Morphologic appearance of the nymphs showed multiple transverse grooves, saw-like cuticles, peribuccal hooks and acidophilic glands. In conclusion, these findings reveal the etiopathological diagnosis of Linguatulosis and suggest that the lungs might be a target organ in addition to the liver and lymph nodes.
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