Invaginatio caecocolica in two mares of islandic breed infected with Anaplocephala perfoliata - case reports

Caecocolic invagination is infrequently the cause of colic in the horse. Yo ung horses and ponies are mostly affected. Both an acute and a chronic cour se of the disease have been described. This case report deals with the acut e disease of two pony mares of islandic breed. Signs of strangulation of th e small intestine required immediate median laparotomy in the first case. I n the second case the nonresponsive therapy was the reason for diagnostic l aparotomy. Caecocolonic invagination was diagnosed intraoperatively in both horses. Because of the severely compromised bowel wall of the right ventra l portion of the large colon and the ruptured caecum in the second case, re duction of the invaginations was impossible and both horses were euthanised . The following post mortem gross section revealed a large number of endopa rasites on the mucose of the caput of the caecum, caecocolonic orifice and the colon ascendens. The parasites were identified as Anaplocephala perfoli ata. Causes and course of the disease, diagnostic possibilities, surgical m anagement and prophylaxis are discussed.