A case of paramphistomosis and clinical evaluation in a cow with intensive breeding

Abstract

Paramphistomosis is an infection caused by parasites belonging to the family Paramphistomidae in domestic and wild ruminants. Due to the biology of the parasites, infection is more common in grazing animals. Infections with a subclinical course may cause production losses, while deaths may occur in severe clinical infections. This case report presents a cow reared under the intensive system and diagnosed with Paramphistomosis at necropsy to draw the attention of researchers, veterinarians and breeders to the subject. A total of 3756 Paramphistomidae parasites were collected, 2434 from the rumen and 1322 from the reticulum, in the postmortem necropsy of a six-year-old Holstein cow, which did not go out to pasture after the heifer period. Histopathological examinations revealed hyperkeratosis and acanthotic areas, as well as mononuclear cell infiltrations in the mucosa of both organs. The most important point of this case is that the animal, which lived most of its life in the "intensive system", was found to be infected by a "pasture-borne" parasitic infection (Paramphistomosis). In this context, contrary to the general belief that "there are no internal parasites in animals kept under intensive production conditions", it is thought that it would be beneficial to perform clinical and laboratory examinations for endoparasitic infections (especially helminthosis) at least once a year in accordance with the concept of "preventive medicine".