Figure 6

The chronic stage of bovine besnoitiosis: Clinical findings in study animal 20. Reference to the day when the picture was taken is provided in the figure (dps = days post seroconversion). A) Parasitic cysts in the scleral conjunctivae were very difficult to detect in the early stage of chronic disease. Only reflections of light where scleral conjunctiva is slightly uneven can be appreciated. A few reflections are indicated (→). B) Less than two weeks later, pale, almost translucent cysts were easily noticeable. A few cysts are indicated by the arrow (→). C) At the end of the follow-up period cysts were pearl white with an estimated diameter of up to 1 mm. D) Clinically unaffected skin of left front teat. E) Palpable indurations and open skin lesion on left front teat five weeks later. F) Intradermal knots and encrusted epidermal areas on left front teat. G) Clinically unaffected skin of left hind limb. H) Skin in left tarsal region uneven and slightly lichenified. J) Thickend and hypotricheic skin on left hind leg. K) Parasitic cysts in the vestibulum vaginae were of similar size and color as those in the scleral conjunctivae near the end of the follow-up period. A few cysts are indicated (→). L) Claws of right hind limb after trimming 176 dps. Signs of chronic laminitis indicated by widening of white line and blood stained sole horn of lateral claw. M) Multiple mature Besnoitia besnoiti tissue cysts in the laminar corium displacing laminar epidermal infoldings (Sample taken at necropsy).