Enlarged gallbladder in a rat!???? A 2-year-old, spayed female, pet rat presented to the state diagnostic laboratory for necropsy after being treated for severe respiratory distress associated with left atrial thrombosis. During necropsy, a cystic structure was attached to the edge of the left medial liver lobe (Figure 1). The cyst was carefully dissected, and a single, 14-15 cm long, segmented worm was recovered (Figure 2 & 3).  Figure 1  Figure 2  Figure 3: Anterior end AnswerStrobilocercus - Juvenile stage of Taenia taeniaeformis. Taenia taeniaeformis is a common tapeworm found in cats following ingestion of infected rodents. Rodents can serve as an intermediate host by ingestion of eggs. In a rodent, the larva migrates through the intestine and then forms a cyst associated with the liver. Strobilocercosis is usually non-pathogenic and an incidental finding during necropsy examination. Click on the following link to watch a video of a live strobilocercus in this case! www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sIE7ui0t-8 |