• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.93-96
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• 2010

We describe a case of enterolithiasis in an eight-year-old male Grant's zebra (Equus burchelli boehmi) that died after a 10-day history of depression, anorexia, dehydration and colic. On necropsy, an enterolith was discovered at the conjunction of the descending colon and the rectum. The spherical enterolith weighed 1,660 g and was $13.5cm{\times}8cm$ in size. According to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), the nidus consisted primarily of $SiO_2$ with outer layers of magnesium and phosphate. The formation of enteroliths is closely related to diet. We suggest that this captive zebra's diet, which consisted primarily of alfalfa hay with mineral supplements, was the cause of enterolithiasis in this case. This is the first report of enterolithiasis in a captive equid in Korea. Our findings provide information valuable for the development of dietary guidelines to prevent enterolithiasis in captive wild equids.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.442-445
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• 2011

Macrocyclic lactone resistance has been reported in populations of Parascaris equorum from several countries. A Grant's zebra (Equus burchelli bohmi) was admitted to the Equine Hospital at Jeju Race Park with signs of chronic weight loss and severe depression. Clinical examination revealed tachycardia and dehydration. Over the course of a day, the zebra suffered from severe abdominal pain and subsequently died. Prior to admission, the zebra had received prophylactic anthelmintic treatment with ivermectin 3 times at 3-month intervals and was dewormed with ivermectin 30 days prior to the onset of depression. At necropsy, there were masses of ascarids in the stomach and small intestine, and intestinal perforation. There are many reports of ivermectin-resistant P. equorum in horses. However, anthelmintic resistance has not been formally demonstrated in zebras. This report describes diagnosed case of gastrointestinal impaction and intestinal perforation by P. equorum in an adult zebra. We suspect that ivermectin-resistant P. equorum larvae were the cause.