Histopathological and morphological studies on natural Cysticercus fasciolaris infection in liver of Wistar rats

Descriptive morphology of multifocal hepatic cysts found in eight of forty five (17.78 %) Wistar rats sacrificed during pharmacological studies related to herbal formulations was studied. The creamish to white cysts were of varying sizes, ranging from 3–8 mm in diameter. Morphological studies of these cysts depicted the presence of metacestodes of Taenia taeniaeformis i.e. Cysticercus fasciolaris inside them. The scolex of metacestode revealed four suckers and rostellum armed with two distinct rows of characteristic pen knife shaped hooks (characteristics of taeniid cestodes). The average size of large hooks was 392.92 ± 10.12 µ and that of small hooks was 240.64 ± 14.26 µ. The average size of suckers was 304.36 ± 12.33 µ. Histopathology of hepatic tissue surrounding the cysts revealed zones of fatty change, inflammation, granulation tissue and metaplasia. However, the histopathology of stomach and small intestines didn’t show any significant lesions.