First report of fatal baylisascariasis-induced acute pancreatitis in a giant panda

• Published in: Parasitology international 2021-10, Vol.84, p.102380-102380, Article 102380
• Main Authors: Qin, Zhenyang, Liu, Songrui, Bai, Minghuan, Geng, Yi, Miller, D.L., Zhao, Ruoxuan, Hou, Rong, Huang, Wenjun, Zhang, Dongsheng, Su, Xiaoyan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Baylisascariasis-induced acute pancreatitis; Baylisascaris schroederi; Diagnosis; Giant panda
• ISSN: 1383-5769; 1873-0329
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102380

A wild adult male giant panda that was rescued from a nature reserve in Sichuan Province, China, has died. The panda had been in poor physical condition: it was wheezing and had increased serum amylase. A pathological examination was performed in order to determine the cause of death. Gross examination revealed 1380 mL of yellowish fluid in the abdominal cavity, 356 nematodes in the digestive tract and one filling the pancreatic duct, contractions and variably-sized dark purple areas in the spleen, a collapsed right lung and consolidation of the left lung. Acute pancreatitis was confirmed histopathologically via edema, focal necrosis and hemorrhage with inflammatory cell infiltration. Other major histopathological changes included serous-hemorrhagic pneumonia, lymphocytic necrosis and depletion in the spleen, and degeneration and necrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells. The nematodes were identified as Baylisascaris schroederi via molecular assays. In conclusion, the cause of death of the giant panda was determined to be multiple organ dysfunction syndrome caused by baylisascariasis-induced acute pancreatitis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of fatal baylisascariasis-induced acute pancreatitis in the giant panda.