First Complete Morphological Description of Schistosoma Reflexum in a Llama.
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
41930925
Abstract
Schistosoma reflexum (SR) is a lethal congenital malformation characterized by severe spinal retroflexion, thoracoabdominoschisis with visceral exposure. This case report aims to describe the morphology and pathology of SR in a llama. A white male llama (Lama glama) cria was delivered with dystocia following a normal gestation. Pathological examination revealed a severe U-shaped retroflexion of the spine, thoracolumbar scoliosis and sacral levoscoliosis, abdominoschisis, arthrogryposis, asymmetrical costal malformations, a ventricular septal defect and atresia recti and ani. Computed tomography (CT) of the eviscerated corpus confirmed the severe skeletal dysplasia, including retroflexion and levoscoliosis of the thoracolumbar and sacral spine, a cervical transitional vertebra, costal malformations and multiple angular limb deformities of hindlimbs, as well as bilateral coxofemoral joint subluxation and medial patella luxation on the left side. RT-qPCR testing excluded teratogenic viral infections. Pathology confirmed the diagnosis of an SR-type malformation and CT helped to further characterize the skeletal malformations that define SR. This is the first specific morphological description of SR in a llama and highlights the complementary value of CT and postmortem examination for characterizing complex congenital malformations in camelids.
Date Issued
2026-05
Publication Type
Article
Subjects
New World camelids
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South American camelids
•
congenital malformation
•
cria
•
dystocia
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Institute of Animal Pathology, Laboratory Cancer Therapy Escape I | |
Additional Credits
Institute of Animal Pathology, Laboratory Cancer Therapy Escape I
Journal
Veterinary Medicine and Science
Publisher
Wiley
ISSN
2053-1095
Access(Rights)
open.access