Clinical pathology of experimental stephanuriasis in pigs.

Haematology and serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities were studied during the migration phase of Stephanurus dentatus in the livers of experimentally infected pigs. There was no evidence of anaemia but total leucocyte counts were raised and peripheral eosinophilia began 2 to 3 weeks after infection. Peak eosinophilia occurred 6 to 7 weeks after infection and levels were still elevated at 20 weeks. Lymphocyte and neutrophil numbers remained constant. Reinfection did not stimulate a secondary eosinophil response. Only aspartate aminotransferase was temporarily elevated. The gross pathology resulting from the infections is described. Several clinicopathological differences in the response of pigs to invasion of the liver by S. dentatus were noted compared to those produced by Ascaris suum but none are pathognomonic.