Pathological study of lesion caused by Serpinema microcephalus (Nematoda: Camallanidae) in Mauremys caspica caspica from north of Iran.

Serpinema microcephalus is nematoda from family Camallanidae, which have a lot of pathogenesis species that harbored via many animals like fishes, reptiles and amphibians. Epidemiological study in different regions and histopathological examination of intestinal parasitic infections caused by S. microcephalus are prerequisite to develop appropriate control strategies. This study aimed to describe the lesions caused by S. microcephalus from Caspian turtles of north of Iran. Thirty-four adult turtles were collected from road accidents in Behshahr, northeastern city of Mazandaran province. The turtles were examined in the laboratory and parasite samples were collected from the small intestine. After clarification by lactophenol and staining, the parasites were identified as S. microcephalus (Nematoda: Camallanidae). For histopathological examination, tissue samples were fixed and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Microscopic diagnoses in small intestine included hyperaemia, eosinophilic enteritis, mucosal glands hyperplasia, mucosal ulceration, intestinal exudation and fibroma in some cases. In pancreas tissue the lesions consisted of mild inflammation, fibrosis and edema. Considering the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infections (29.41 %) among Caspian turtles in this study, identification and control of the disease of the turtles are recommended.

Histopathologic study of eosinophilic bronchointerstitial pneumonia caused by Crenosoma striatum in the hedgehog.

Crenosoma striatum is a species of parasitic nematodes from the family Crenosomatidae responsible for pathologic lung lesions in the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). Infection with C. striatum can cause weight loss, dry cough, and bronchitis. In the present study, hedgehogs killed by road accidents, or trapped and found dead on farms in different parts of Mazandaran province (Iran), were transferred to the laboratory. After dissection, parasite samples collected from the lung were placed into 70% alcohol. After clarification with lactophenol and subsequent staining, the nematodes were identified as C. striatum according to previously published guidelines. For histopathologic examination, lung samples were collected. The tissues were fixed and following routine processing, sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Microscopic diagnoses included hyperemia, eosinophilic bronchointerstitial pneumonia, thickening of the interstitium, and eosinophilic microabscesses in bronchial airways. Eosinophilic pneumonia was characterized by eosinophil and other mononuclear leukocyte infiltration within the lung interstitium. Crenosoma striatum can lead to mortality in hedgehogs.