Fatal gastrointestinal parasitism in goats: 31 cases (2001-2006).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate signalment, history, clinical and pathologic findings, and seasonal weather patterns in association with fatal gastrointestinal parasitism in goats. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 152 goats that were > 1 day of age. PROCEDURES: Characteristics including age and counts of coccidia oocysts and trichostrongyle ova (eggs) per gram of feces (EPG) in goats that died because of gastrointestinal parasitism and goats that died because of other causes were compared. Weather data and annual incidence of caprine fatal gastrointestinal parasitism were investigated. RESULTS: Death was attributed to gastrointestinal parasitism in 31 of 152 (20%) goats (median age, 5 months; range, 1 month to 7 years); deaths were attributed to coccidiosis (n = 7 goats; median age, 4 months; median EPG, 2,225), trichostrongylosis (6 goats; median age, 1.25 years; median EPG, 3,700), or dual infection (18 goats; median age, 6.7 months; median EPG, 8,088 coccidia and 5,475 trichostrongyles). Sudden onset of weakness or death was a common historical finding; diarrhea was evident in 15 goats. Common postmortem findings in these goats included cachexia, tissue pallor, poorly formed feces, and mesenteric lymphadenomegaly. Wet weather in spring and summer was associated with increased annual incidence of fatal gastrointestinal parasitism in goats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Gastrointestinal parasitism is an important cause of death in goats. Clinical signs may not develop until just prior to death, and diagnosis is achieved via parasitologic evaluation of feces and necropsy. Seasonal weather patterns should be considered on an annual basis when designing parasite control programs for goats.

Equine cutaneous fungal granuloma: a study of 44 lesions from 34 horses.

Forty-four nodular and noninvasive cutaneous fungal granulomas were identified in 34 horses over a 14.5-year period. Cutaneous fungal granulomas were most common in young horses (mean age 6.1 +/- 4.2 years; range 1-19 years). There was no apparent breed or sex bias. Granulomas were either single or multiple, and most often occurred in the skin of the head and neck. The characteristic histological finding was a nodular dermal mass with a mean diameter of 7.3 mm (range 2.5-20 mm) and an intact overlying epithelium. Lesions most often exhibited intense lymphocytic inflammation, with admixed pyogranulomatous inflammation associated with a small to moderate number of fungal elements. Causative fungi were both pigmented and nonpigmented organisms of variable morphology. Penetrating plant material was identified in three cases. Granulomas caused by nonpigmented fungi were most common in horses from wet regions. Both pigmented and nonpigmented fungi were found in granulomas from horses in dry regions. Cutaneous fungal granulomas occurred in February through November, with peaks in April and July. No correlation of yearly incidence with annual average temperature or rainfall was detected. This study confirms that equine cutaneous fungal granuloma is relatively common in horses in the Pacific Northwest. Morphology of causative fungi was variable, but the signalment, history, and clinical and overall histological features were very similar. Surgical excision was curative.