title: Hepatic capillariasis in a Cape ground squirrel (Xerus inaurus).
abstract: We report, for the first time, an incidental finding of Calodium hepaticum infestation in a sub-adult female Cape ground squirrel (Xerus inaurus). Post mortem examination of the squirrel revealed severe haemoperitoneum, splenomegaly and hepatomegaly with miliary white spots distributed diffusely throughout the hepatic parenchyma. Histologically the portal tracts in the liver showed granulomatous inflammation with fibrosis and numerous giant cells. Occasional adult worms were identified and there were multiple C. hepaticum eggs distributed diffusely throughout the portal tracts and the parenchyma. The spleen also contained C. hepaticum eggs. The genus Rattus is the primary host and reservoir of C. hepaticum, but C. hepaticum infections have been reported previously in other Sciuridae. Based on our findings, people should be cautious of the zoonotic potential of C. hepaticum, when they come into contact with the Cape ground squirrel.
authors.affiliation: Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, 7 York Rd, Parktown, 2193 South Africa. kennedy.erlwanger@wits.ac.za
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Erlwanger
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: De Witt
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Fick
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hetem
authors.forename: L C R
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002195:Capillaria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D017189:Enoplida Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012589:Sciuridae / Q000469:parasitology