Cerebral larva migrans caused by Baylisascaris sp in pet rabbits

• Published in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 205; no. 12; p. 1744
• Main Authors: Deeb, B J, DiGiacomo, R F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 15.12.1994
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Ascaridida Infections - parasitology; Ascaridida Infections - veterinary; Ascaridoidea - isolation & purification; brain; Brain Diseases - parasitology; Brain Diseases - veterinary; case studies; cerebro; conejo oryctolagus; diagnosis; diagnostic; diagnostico; encephale; estudios de casos practicos; etude de cas; Female; helminthose; helminthoses; helmintiasis; histopathologie; histopathology; histopatologia; lapin oryctolagus; Larva; Larva Migrans - parasitology; Larva Migrans - veterinary; Male; nematoda; rabbits; Rabbits - parasitology; sintomas; symptome; symptoms
• ISSN: 0003-1488; 1943-569X
• DOI: 10.2460/javma.1994.205.12.1744

Cerebral larva migrans was diagnosed histologically in 4 pet rabbits that developed progressive neurologic disease. Larvae of Baylisascaris sp were isolated from brain tissues in 2 rabbits. The clinical syndrome of progressive torticollis and ataxia manifested by these rabbits is commonly associated with otitis and labyrinthitis attributable to bacterial infection; however, the middle ears were normal on radiographic and postmortem examinations. The severe encephalopathy that developed in these rabbits was indicative that just a few Baylisascaris larvae may cause extensive brain injury. During the summer, all of the affected rabbits were maintained outdoors in suburban areas, where raccoons, the final host of B procyonis, are commonly observed. Raccoon feces containing B procyonis eggs constitute a health risk for rabbits, as well as for human beings.