Clinical and morphopathological characteristics of an enzootic occurrence of acute coenurosis (Coenurus cerebralis) in a sheep herd

In this study, 30 sheep from a flock suddenly showed acute neurological symptoms associated with more than 30 % mortality. At necropsy, thickening associated with congestion and turbidity of meningeal membranes particularly on cerebellum, focal to multifocal necrotic areas and whitish spots measuring 1 to 3 cm in diameter were observed in the cortex of cerebrum and cerebellum. Grossly, numerous white tracts were also observed in the myocardium. Histopathologically, the cross sections of coenurus larvae associated with necrotic suppurative meningoencephalitis were observed. Multiple necrotic areas were also observed in the gray matter of cerebellum due to migration of the larvae with an extensive infiltration of eosinophils and neutrophils. In the heart, multifocal granulomatous myocarditis was diagnosed. No growth was seen in bacterial cultures of the brain and heart. Also, no bacteria were seen in these tissues stained with Ziehl-Neelsen and Brown–Brenn Gram stain. On basis of gross and histopathologic lesions, acute coenurosis was diagnosed. Unlike chronic coenurosis, acute form of the disease rarely reported in sheep.