Circumferential Ileal Rupture due to Verminous Arteritis in a Pony: A Case Report

Verminous arteritis due to Strongylus vulgaris infection is a well-known cause of colic in horses; however, fatal episodes of verminous arteritis are now considered uncommon events due to efficient anthelmintic treatment strategies. The current report describes a fatal incidence of ileal devitalization with subsequent circumferential rupture caused by S vulgaris infection in an adult pony gelding in which anthelmintic treatment was regularly administered. A complete section of the ileum was rendered ischemic due to arterial thrombi containing larvae of S vulgaris, causing the ileum to rupture transversely within the ischemic segment. To the authors’ knowledge, a complete circumferential ileal rupture due to verminous arteritis has not previously been described in horses. Based on recent reports of fatal verminous arteritis due to S vulgaris infection in horses, it may be prudent to consider acute colic caused by this highly pathogenic parasite a re-emerging disease in modern horse management.