Pathomorphology of Trichosomoides crassicauda in a Wistar rat

Trichosomoides crassicauda is a nematode parasite inhabiting the urinary bladder of wild and laboratory rats. Its unique feature is the presence of the male worm permanently embedded within the uterus of the female worm. On gross examination, no specific lesions could be detected in the urinary bladder. Histopathological examination of urinary bladder revealed epithelial hyperplasia, mucosal thickening and multiple cut sections of parasite. Within the lumen and mucosa well-developed eggs and female parasites were embedded in the epithelium of urinary bladder with no inflammatory reaction around the parasite. Based on the gross examination and histopathological findings, the case was identified as incidence of Trichosomoides crassicauda in rat.