A retrospective study on Schistosoma spindale infection in domestic ruminants, Andhra Pradesh, India.

The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Schistosoma spindale infection in domestic ruminants in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh by coprological and necropsy examination. Examination of 177 buffaloes, 283 sheep and 166 goats faecal samples (n = 626) revealed 2.25, 2.82 and 1.80% of S. spindale infection, respectively. Necropsy examination of 21 buffaloes, 185 sheep and 217 goats revealed 14.2, 1.08 and 3.68% of S. spindale infection, respectively. Overall, microscopic examination of faecal smears revealed 2.39% (n = 15) prevalence of S. spindale infection in ruminants in the study area, while 3.07% (n = 13) of ruminants were found to be positive for S. spindale during postmortem examination. Adult worms collected from the mesenteric veins were processed and identified as S. spindale. Grossly, the infected livers were found with petechial haemorrhages, cirrhotic changes and pinpoint granulomas in parenchymatous tissue. Histological sections of livers revealed microgranulomas with infiltration of mononuclears, eosinophils and fibroblast cells surrounding the Schistosome ova. The intestinal mucosa was thickened, edematous and haemorrhagic with copious mucous exudates. Cut section of infected intestines revealed severe inflammatory reactions in the mucosa and sub mucosa and granulomatous changes surrounding the Schistosoma eggs. © Indian Society for Parasitology 2022.