Taenia coenurus in the orbit of a chinchilla

Vet Ophthalmol. 2007 Jan-Feb;10(1):53-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2007.00501.x.

Abstract

A 4-year old, male intact, captive-bred chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) was presented due to progressive exophthalmos of the right eye over a 5-month period. Ophthalmic examination revealed exophthalmos with dorsal displacement of the right globe. Retropulsion was decreased and a fluctuant, subcutaneous mass could be palpated posterior and dorsal to the central aspect of the zygomatic bone. Transdermal ultrasonography revealed a fluid-filled mass consistent with a cyst located within the ventral right orbit. Computed tomography demonstrated dorsal displacement of the globe, lateral displacement of the zygomatic arch, and numerous mineral-dense foci within the lumen of the cyst. The cyst was removed en bloc by ventral transpalpebral orbitotomy. Histopathology revealed a single capsulated cyst with multiple invaginated protoscolices, characterized by a prominent scolex with refractile hooklets, suckers, and abundant calcareous corpuscles consistent with a Taenia coenurus. Exophthalmos resolved with surgical therapy and there was no evidence of recurrence or postoperative complications over a period of 2 years. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of an orbital cyst of parasitic origin in a chinchilla.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chinchilla*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Exophthalmos / etiology
  • Exophthalmos / veterinary
  • Eye Infections, Parasitic / complications
  • Eye Infections, Parasitic / diagnosis
  • Eye Infections, Parasitic / diagnostic imaging
  • Eye Infections, Parasitic / veterinary*
  • Male
  • Taenia / isolation & purification*
  • Taenia / ultrastructure
  • Taeniasis / complications
  • Taeniasis / diagnosis
  • Taeniasis / diagnostic imaging
  • Taeniasis / veterinary*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary
  • Ultrasonography