Peritoneal Cavity - Parasitic Pathology

Parasitic cysts

Image of Taenia hydatigena cyst in ovine omentum from Cornell Veterinary Medicine

• Taenia hydatigena (Cysticercus tenuicollis) in ruminants - liver, mesentery, peritoneum - large fluid filled.
• Taenia pisiformis (Cysricercus pisiformis) in lagomorphs
• Taenia ovis (Cysticercus ovis) - sheep, diaphragm - small, firmer.
• Mesocestoides in carnivores causing pyogranulomatous peritonitis or parasitic ascites

Hydatid cysts

• Echinococcus granulosus - any mammal including man

Other parasites

• Fasciola hepatica larvae cause chronic or acute peritonitis in cattle and sheep

• Stephanuris dentatus in pigs causes local haemorrhage, peritonitis and perihepatitis through its migration through liver and peritoneal cavity

• Strongylus edentatus and Strongylus equinus migrate through liver and peritoneal cavity, sometimes cause eosinophilic granulomas in mesenteries and omentum of horses

• Ascarids may cause obstruction or rupture of small intestines or bile duct

• Setaria spp. use peritoneal cavity of many herbivores as their final destination
  • Dead individuals may cause granulomatous peritonitis
  • Sheathed microphilariae deposited in the peritoneal cavity move to blood and are transferred to their intermediate hosts, the mosquitos or other biting insects