Therapeutic Management of Schistosoma spindale-induced Visceral Schistosomiasis in Cattle: A Case Report

Schistosomiasis is an economically important parasitic disease affecting livestock in tropical and subtropical regions, including India. Present study reports a clinical case of visceral schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma spindale in a five-year-old crossbred cow from Patna, Bihar (India). The cow was presented with history of anorexia, reduced milk yield, and passage of blood and mucus mixed feces for five days. Clinical examination revealed pallor mucosa, dullness, and mild dehydration. Fecal examination using direct smear and sedimentation technique revealed characteristic spindle-shaped eggs of S. spindale, confirming the diagnosis. Hematological analysis revealed anemia with low hemoglobin (7.8 g/dl), packed cell volume (22%), and total erythrocyte count (4.62 × 10⁶/cumm). The cow was treated with oral praziquantel (@20 mg/kg, two doses at three week interval) along with supportive therapy including intravenous fluids, tranexamic acid and haematinics. A remarkable clinical improvement was observed within three days of treatment with restoration of normal feeding and fecal consistency. However, complete recovery was confirmed by negative fecal examination after three weeks post-treatment.