Overwhelming strongyloidosis in a foal.

Abstract

A 6-month-old foal was evaluated because of weakness, weight loss, and inappetence of 3 weeks' duration. On initial examination, the foal was weak, poorly responsive, and emaciated. Clinicopathologic abnormalities included anemia and hypoproteinemia. Because of its severe debilitation, the foal was euthantized. Necropsy revealed marked infection of the small intestine with Strongyloides westeri and severe edema of the entire gastrointestinal tract. The foal had been orphaned when it was 6 hours old and raised in isolation from other horses. We believe that this foal developed overwhelming strongyloidosis when it was first exposed to other foals at 5 months of age, because it had not been naturally exposed to the organism at a younger age and was immunologically naive.