Case Report of Hepatic Capillaria hepatica Infection in a Black-Tailed Prairie Dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) in Belgrade Zoo

Abstract

Capillaria hepatica (syn. Calodium hepaticum ) is a zoonotic nematode parasite commonly found in the liver of a broad range of mammalian hosts worldwide. This parasite was found in a black-tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) from the Belgrade Zoo which had recently been transferred from another Zoo. Capillaria hepatica was an incidental finding during necropsy. The gross appearance of the affected liver was characterized by multifocal, firm, white to yellowish, round granulomas, 1–3 mm in diameter situated on the surface of the liver that extended into the underlying hepatic parenchyma. Histopathologically, multiple granulomas encompassed clusters of Capillaria hepatica eggs surrounded by central caseous necrosis, cellular debris admixed with epithelioid macrophages, multinucleate giant cells, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and a fibrous capsule. This paper describes the first case report of Capillaria hepatica in zoo animals in Serbia.