Toxocara vitulorum intestinal impaction in male White Fulani calves: a case report from Nigeria.

Post mortem examinations were performed on the carcasses of two male White Fulani calves that reportedly died within a herd of about 45 cattle. Similar deaths were recorded in three other calves of the same age bracket (8-13 weeks) within a 5-day period about two weeks ago but no post mortem examinations were conducted on any of them unlike this present case. Contagious bovine pleuropneumonitis vaccination was reportedly up-to-date and the herd were recently treated with Diminazene aceturate (Berenil®) and Oxytetracycline® LA about two (2) months ago against haemoparasitism. Carcasses were in poor body condition with pale mucous membranes. The small intestines of both carcasses were grossly enlarged and impacted with numerous strands of round worms resulting in ballooned intestines with small ingesta and gas along with near empty large intestines containing few spots of faecal materials and gas. The worms were identified as Toxocara vitulorum while a diagnosis of T. vitulorum intestinal impaction was made. This case report highlights possible fatality that can be occasioned by these often overlooked mere worm burdens in calves within a herd. This calls for proactive measures to guard against this silent farmer's "kill joy" for meaningful and effective cattle production.