[Clinical features and diagnosis of Stephanofilariasis in dairy cows]

Clinical aspects related to natural stephanofilariasis were investigated in 55 dairy cows of seven herds, located in Santana do Itararé, PR and Itaberá, SP, Brazil, from January 2006 to February 2008. Two diagnosis methods using biopsed tissue fragments from the border of the skin lesions were compared to confirm the presence of the nematode: histopathology (n = 24) and direct sediment examination of isotonic saline solution (n = 20). The highest prevalence was observed on December to March (60%) and on lactating cows (90,9%). The parasite was not detected in any histological examination of the fragments. The direct examination enabled the demonstration of the agent in 100% of the samples. The stephanofilariasis is a disease prevalent in summer, and is characterized by skin lesions located in the fore quarters of the udder of lactating dairy cows. The lesion has circular format, is ulcerated with crusts and displays serous and blood exudate. The direct sediment examination proved to be efficient for the diagnosis confirmation.