Hydatidosis in a Chapman's zebra (Equus burchelli antiquorum)

A 14-year-old male Chapman's zebra had been treated for a cervical granulom atous cellulitis for 3 months prior to sudden death associated with myocard ial fibrosis. Incidental findings at necropsy included multiple 3-8-cm unil ocular cysts in the liver and lungs. Cysts contained either a clear fluid w ith or without hydatid sand or a gelatinous substance with foci of minerali zation. Light and scanning electron microscopic examination of the hydatid sand revealed free protoscolices as well as intact and ruptured brood capsu les with protoscolices attached to the germinal membrane. The protoscolices had 2 rows of 36-38 rostellar hooks with a length of 25-30 mum. The cyst w all consisted of inner germinal, intermediate, laminated, and outer adventi tial layers. Hydatidosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus was diagnosed ba sed on the unilocular cysts, multiple protoscolices formed in a brood capsu le, typical trilayered cyst wall, and herbivorous intermediate host. This i s the first reported case of animal hydatidosis in Taiwan. The infection is thought to have been established 12 years ago, in South Africa prior to im portation.