Priapism Possibly Caused by Spinal Nematodiasis in a Stallion

Abstract

A 13-year-old Anglo-Arabian stallion showing signs of lumber paralysis for four months suddenly developed priapism and was autopsied five days after the onset of priapism. Pathological examinations revealed that lumber paralysis was caused by spinal nematodiasis with parenchymal destruction in the spinal cord and severe infiltration of eosinophils and gliosis caused by the migration of nematode parasites. Leucodystrophy of the lumbosacral spinal cords and axonal dystrophy of the peripheral nerves such as the N. femoralis, N. ischiadicus, N. pudendus, and N. dorsalis penis were also observed. In the swollen penis, severe venous congestion and multiple thrombosis were frequently observed in the corpus spongiosum, necrotic changes and diffuse infiltration with neutrophils in the cavernous trabeculi. Secondary peripheral neuropathy in the penis which resulted from the parasitic spinal injury was discussed histopathologically. This is the first case report of priapism due to spinal nematodiasis.