Diagnostic Exercise: Gastroenteritis and
Pneumonia Due to Mesocestoides
spp. and Toxascaris
leonina in a Eurasian Lynx (Lynx
lynx)
Yavuz Selim Sağlam1*, Ertan Oruç1,
Hamza Avcıoğlu2 and Serdar Altun1
1Department
of Pathology; 2Department of Parasitology, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Ataturk, Erzurum, Turkey.
*Corresponding author: yssaglam@atauni.edu.tr
Abstract
Pathological and parasitological findings of a
parasitic gastroenteritis due to
Mesocestoides spp. and Toxascaris
leonina in a two-year-old lynx (Lynx
lynx) was identified. The lynx was injured due to an accident in the forest
in İspir-Erzurum, Turkey. At necropsy, there was erosive and hemorrhagic tissue
loss on different regions of the head, especially on the nose. Numerous
parasites were found in the stomach and intestine. At histopathological
examination, along with necrotic debris and gastric contents in the luminal
surface of the stomach, various parasitic forms were identified. Similar
parasitic forms were observed in the intestine. Fecal examination revealed
Toxascaris leonina eggs. It was concluded that parasitic gastroenteritis and
pneumonia due to Mesocestoides spp.
and Toxascaris leonina were the causes
of death in a wild lynx and this is the first reported from Turkey according to
the current literature.