Fatal Hymenolepis nana cestodiasis in a ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Crouch, Esther E.V.;Hollinger, Charlotte;Zec, Stephanie;McAloose, Denise
Abstract

The cestode Hymenolepis nana is a common parasite of humans and mice. Fecal shedding in the absence of clinical disease has previously been reported in ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta). This report describes fatal, disseminated H. nana cestodiasis infection in an aged ring-tailed lemur in a zoological collection. The parasites were associated with severe multifocal to coalescing and regionally extensive pyogranulomatous hepatitis and moderate multifocal pneumonia. The morphology of the parasites was highly unusual. Profiles were variably sized, ellipsoid to irregularly serpiginous, lined by a thin tegument, and filled with lightly eosinophilic fibrillar stroma and numerous, round basophilic cells. Polymerase chain reaction targeting a portion of the 18S rRNA gene and DNA sequencing of the amplicon showed 100% homology with H. nana.

Journal

Veterinary Pathology

Publication Name

Veterinary Pathology

Volume

59

ISBN/ISSN

1544-2217

Edition

N/A

Issue

1

Pages Count

4

Location

N/A

Publisher

Sage Publications

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N/A

Publisher Location

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Publish Date

N/A

Url

N/A

Date

N/A

EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1177/03009858211042580