What is the "train track" in the retained equine testis?
S Di Giorgio1, S Monti1, V Palmieri1
1Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale G. Palatucci, Messina, 98168, Italy.
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
|April 17, 2025
Summary
A rare case of Strongylus vulgaris infection in a cryptorchid equine testis was documented. This study details the unusual parasitic migration and its ultrasonographic findings in a stallion.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Equine Reproduction
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Cryptorchidism, the retention of testes outside the scrotum, is a condition seen in stallions.
- Strongylus vulgaris is a common equine parasite, but its aberrant migration into retained testes is rare.
Observation:
- An ultrasonographic examination of a 3-year-old Quarter horse stallion with unilateral left cryptorchidism revealed the retained left testis.
- Hyperechogenic lines, suggestive of a foreign body, were noted within a non-homogeneous area of the abdominal testis.
Findings:
- Surgical removal of the retained testis exposed two live adult Strongylus vulgaris nematodes within blood-filled tracks in the testicular parenchyma.
- Histological examination confirmed lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates and hemorrhage associated with the parasitic tracks.
Implications:
- This case highlights the uncommon aberrant localization of Strongylus vulgaris within an equine cryptorchid testis.
- The study contributes to understanding the ultrasonographic appearance of parasitic migration in retained equine testes.
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