Fatal hirudiniasis in a cow

A four-year-old cow with acute respiratory distress and continuous profuse bleeding from both nostrils was examined. The animal’s clinical symptoms had persisted for more than a week, and her condition rapidly deteriorated. Four leeches were removed from the nostrils, and supportive treatment was given. The animal, however, died after a few hours. Necropsy revealed another 15 leeches of the Limnatis nilotica species in the respiratory tract blocking the air passage and causing severe anaemia and asphyxia which may have caused the death of the animal. In cases of respiratory distress accompanied with haemoptysis, an early differential diagnosis by clinical and radiological examinations must be carried out to exclude parasitic infestations or foreign body aspiration. Drinking water available to the animals in leech-infested ponds must be avoided, and such ponds must be subjected to chemical treatment to control infection.