Pathology of fatal Baylisascaris schroederi infection in a wild giant panda

Baylisascaris schroederi McIntosh, 1939 (Ascarididae), a nematode specific to giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), is a major health threat, particularly to wild populations. A 20-year-old wild adult female giant panda rescued from a Chinese nature reserve died with a 2-month history of emaciation...

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Main Authors: Chang Lingling, Zhang Danhui, Wang Yashi, Ren Zun, Wu Yaping, Zhang Qiang, Zhao Guanghui, Pan Guanglin, Wang Xinglong, Zhao Xiaomin, Tong Dewen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EDP Sciences 2025-01-01
Series:Parasite
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Online Access:https://www.parasite-journal.org/articles/parasite/full_html/2025/01/parasite250023/parasite250023.html
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author Chang Lingling
Zhang Danhui
Wang Yashi
Ren Zun
Wu Yaping
Zhang Qiang
Zhao Guanghui
Pan Guanglin
Wang Xinglong
Zhao Xiaomin
Tong Dewen
author_facet Chang Lingling
Zhang Danhui
Wang Yashi
Ren Zun
Wu Yaping
Zhang Qiang
Zhao Guanghui
Pan Guanglin
Wang Xinglong
Zhao Xiaomin
Tong Dewen
author_sort Chang Lingling
collection DOAJ
description Baylisascaris schroederi McIntosh, 1939 (Ascarididae), a nematode specific to giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), is a major health threat, particularly to wild populations. A 20-year-old wild adult female giant panda rescued from a Chinese nature reserve died with a 2-month history of emaciation and weakness. Necropsy was performed. Grossly, the giant panda was very thin with minimal fat stores throughout, and marked serous atrophy of fat around the kidneys. Mesenteric edema was very pronounced in the posterior intestine. The abdominal cavity contained approximately 5 L of orange-yellow, translucent, low-viscosity fluid. There were ca. 1,660 robust ascarids occupying the lumen of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Microscopically, the intestine showed moderate necrotizing and eosinophilic enteritis with adult nematodes, consistent with an ascarid. PCR and sequencing confirmed that the ascarid species was B. schroederi. This case highlights a fatal B. schroederi infection in a wild giant panda, with malnutrition and possible multiple organ failure identified as the primary causes of death.
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issn 1776-1042
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
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spelling doaj-art-5fec027d9efa4b26ab9942c89040e09c2025-08-20T03:24:47ZengEDP SciencesParasite1776-10422025-01-01323410.1051/parasite/2025026parasite250023Pathology of fatal Baylisascaris schroederi infection in a wild giant pandaChang Lingling0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3108-0907Zhang Danhui1Wang Yashi2Ren Zun3https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1059-7619Wu Yaping4Zhang Qiang5Zhao Guanghui6Pan Guanglin7Wang Xinglong8Zhao Xiaomin9Tong Dewen10College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F UniversityQinling Giant Panda Research CenterCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F UniversityQinling Giant Panda Research CenterQinling Giant Panda Research CenterCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F UniversityQinling Giant Panda Research CenterCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F UniversityBaylisascaris schroederi McIntosh, 1939 (Ascarididae), a nematode specific to giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), is a major health threat, particularly to wild populations. A 20-year-old wild adult female giant panda rescued from a Chinese nature reserve died with a 2-month history of emaciation and weakness. Necropsy was performed. Grossly, the giant panda was very thin with minimal fat stores throughout, and marked serous atrophy of fat around the kidneys. Mesenteric edema was very pronounced in the posterior intestine. The abdominal cavity contained approximately 5 L of orange-yellow, translucent, low-viscosity fluid. There were ca. 1,660 robust ascarids occupying the lumen of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Microscopically, the intestine showed moderate necrotizing and eosinophilic enteritis with adult nematodes, consistent with an ascarid. PCR and sequencing confirmed that the ascarid species was B. schroederi. This case highlights a fatal B. schroederi infection in a wild giant panda, with malnutrition and possible multiple organ failure identified as the primary causes of death.https://www.parasite-journal.org/articles/parasite/full_html/2025/01/parasite250023/parasite250023.htmlgiant pandabaylisascaris schroederiparasitic infectionpathology
spellingShingle Chang Lingling
Zhang Danhui
Wang Yashi
Ren Zun
Wu Yaping
Zhang Qiang
Zhao Guanghui
Pan Guanglin
Wang Xinglong
Zhao Xiaomin
Tong Dewen
Pathology of fatal Baylisascaris schroederi infection in a wild giant panda
Parasite
giant panda
baylisascaris schroederi
parasitic infection
pathology
title Pathology of fatal Baylisascaris schroederi infection in a wild giant panda
title_full Pathology of fatal Baylisascaris schroederi infection in a wild giant panda
title_fullStr Pathology of fatal Baylisascaris schroederi infection in a wild giant panda
title_full_unstemmed Pathology of fatal Baylisascaris schroederi infection in a wild giant panda
title_short Pathology of fatal Baylisascaris schroederi infection in a wild giant panda
title_sort pathology of fatal baylisascaris schroederi infection in a wild giant panda
topic giant panda
baylisascaris schroederi
parasitic infection
pathology
url https://www.parasite-journal.org/articles/parasite/full_html/2025/01/parasite250023/parasite250023.html
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