Incidental Finding of Capillaria hepatica in a Raccoon Dog(Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Capillaria hepatica a primary trichuroid nematode parasite in rodents, has been reported in wide range of secondary hosts including humans. We report a rare case of Capillariasis in a 4-year old raccoon dog(Nyctereutes procyonoides) submitted to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Chonbuk National University for necropsy on July 5, 1996. Grossly the thoracic cavity contained approximately 200 mls of blood-tinged exudate. Edematous lesion was present around aorta and vena cava. liver was slightly swollen and mottled and contained multifocal yellowish-white lesions ranging from 1 to 3 mm in diameter. Histologically liver lesions were localized around central veins and were characterized by cell swelling and necrosis with mixed inflammatory cells surrounding parasite eggs. These eggs were barrel-shaped with polar caps consistent with Capillaria hepatica.