[First-time endoscopic detection of larvae of Gasterophilus spp. in the oral cavity in 14 warmblood horses].

Intraoral endoscopy is used as a standard diagnostic technique at the reporting clinics in horses presented with stomatological problems. Endoscopy of the oral cavity was performed using a chip camera, camera control unit, xenon cold light source and a rigid endoscope. In a three year period (2002 to 2004), second instars of Gasterophilus spp. were diagnosed in 14 warmblood horses 2 to 17 years of age. All horses were presented with masticatory problems or problems accepting the bit. In one horse oesophageal obstruction occurred in the course of larval migration. Oral endoscopy can not only be used for the diagnosis of dental disease but also for detection of instars of Gasterophilus spp. in the interdental spaces of maxillary cheek teeth.