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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Equine Enteric Glial Culture and Application to the Study of a Neural Inflammatory Mechanism in Equine Colic
Published on: October 4, 2024
Pathological changes caused by Anoplocephala perfoliata in the equine ileocecal junction
S Pavone1, F Veronesi, D Piergili Fioretti
1Dipartimento di Scienze Biopatologiche ed Igiene delle Produzioni Animali e Alimentari, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy. pavone.silvia@libero.it
Abstract:
Gastrointestinal motility disorders represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in horses. Previously regarded as a non-pathogenic tapeworm, Anoplocephala perfoliata has been recently associated with equine colic. In this study, pathological changes related to A. perfoliata at the ileocecal junction were investigated in 31 slaughtered horses. Our results showed a significant relationship between parasitic burden and grading of histopathological lesions in both the mucosa and submucosa. Moreover, in infested horses, hypertrophy of the circular muscle layer was determined. Finally, an enteric nervous system (ENS) evaluation showed injury to intestinal nervous elements in horses with moderate to high parasitism. In summary, our results on the ENS support a correlation between colic and A. perfoliata infestion in the horse.
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