Strobilocercus fasciolaris induced hepatic sarcoma in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Background Taenia taeniaeformis infects the small intestine of domestic and wild carnivores. Rodents, the intermediate hosts, ingest the gravid proglottids from the carnivores' feces. The parasite’s oncosphere reaches the liver via portal circulation after penetrating the wall of small intestine. Purpose The present study reports hepatic sarcoma caused by strobilocercus- the metacestodal stage of Taenia taeniformis in laboratory rats. Method Twenty-three rats in a colony of 72 male wistar rats died suddenly with clinical signs of weakness, lethargy and mild diarrhea. The carcasses were sent to the department of veterinary pathology for postmortem examination. Results Grossly, the liver of 18 rats were having multiple, cream to white cysts of variable sizes of Strobilocercus fasciolaris. Histopathologically, the hepatic tissue surrounding the cysts revealed zones of fatty change, inflammation with infiltration of plasma cells, macrophages and eosinophils, presence of granulation tissue, metaplasia and fibrosarcoma. The pathological changes in the stomach and small intestines include hyperplasia of gastric and intestinal glands and their mucosa. Conclusion The likelihood of altered research results of studies conducted in immune-compromised T. taeniformisinfected rats and its zoonotic implications are discussed herewith.