Coenurosis

coenurosis [‚sē·nyə′rō·səs]

(veterinary medicine)

An infestation by a coenurus, the metacestode ofTaeniaspecies; most common in sheep, rabbits, and other herbivores.

---

Coenurosis 

a helminthic disease of ungulates, chiefly sheep, and some rodents, characterized by the development of coenuri in various tissues. The coenuri concentrate in the brain (cerebral coenurosis), intermuscular connective tissue, and subcutaneous tissue. The source of the causative agents of the disease are carnivorous animals, chiefly dogs, in whose intestine the mature cestodes are parasitic. The infection is transmitted through water and grass contaminated by the parasites’ eggs.

Cerebral coenurosis is especially dangerous for sheep. The animals circle, throw back their heads, and suffer convulsions and loss of vision. The disease may be fatal.

Coenurosis is treated by surgery only if the infected animal is valuable. Otherwise the sheep are slaughtered. Prevention includes worming sheep dogs and pet dogs and exterminating stray dogs.