Multiple false diverticula and intestinal obstruction due to toxocariosis in buffalo calf

Abstract

A month old male Murrah buffalo calf died after showing clinical signs of blood tinged mucoid diarrhoea, un-thriftiness and weakness was subjected to necropsy examination, revealed dilated intestine with 2 to 4 mm diameter size nodules on the serosal surface of duodenum and jejunum. Upon opening the intestine, it showed obstruction due to heavy worm-load and the worms were confirmed as Toxocara vitulorum. Histologically, intestine showed cross sections of adult worms, numerous eggs in the lumen, sloughing of epithelium, shortening and fusion of villi, and mononuclear cell infiltrations in mucosa and submucosa. The tunica muscularis of the intestine showed focal areas of coagulative necrosis with multiple pseudo-diverticula in the intestine. Pseudo-diverticula contained mucosa, sub-mucosa, necrotic debris containing inflammatory cells and eggs of T. vitulorum worm but did not reveal cross sections of the adult worms. The present case represents a rare case of toxocariosis in buffalo calf depicting multiple false diverticula and intestinal obstruction and hence reported.