Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Fatal infection in two Icelandic stallions caused by Halicephalobus gingivalis (Nematoda: Rhabditida).
- Journal:
- Veterinary parasitology
- Year:
- 2012
- Authors:
- Eydal, Matthías et al.
- Affiliation:
- Institute for Experimental Pathology
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This study discusses two Icelandic stallions that sadly died from an infection caused by a type of roundworm called Halicephalobus gingivalis. In the first case, a stallion injured its mouth and later showed severe neurological problems, leading to euthanasia. A tissue examination showed inflammation and damage in the brain, along with many of the nematodes present. The second stallion began to lose its balance and was also euthanized after not responding to treatment. Tissue tests revealed the same type of nematodes in various parts of its nervous system, but there were only minor signs of inflammation. These cases are significant as they are the first reported infections of this kind in Iceland.
Abstract
Opportunistic infections with the free living nematode Halicephalobus gingivalis are infrequently reported in horses but the cases are widespread geographically. The nematodes are believed to penetrate wounds and subsequently reproduce within the host tissues. This paper reports two cases of a fatal disease in stallions of the Icelandic breed in Iceland. Case 1: a stallion, which sustained injuries to the mouth after an accident, developed severe neurological signs and had to be euthanatized. Histological examination revealed mild inflammation and malacia in the cerebellum associated with the presence of numerous H. gingivalis nematodes. Case 2: a stallion that started swerving to one side and lost balance was euthanatized due to lack of response to therapy and rapid deterioration. Histological examination revealed numerous H. gingivalis nematodes in the cerebellum, brain stem, cervical spinal cord and in the meninges, with minimal reactive changes. In case 1 the infection presumably was acquired by nematodes from soil penetrating through wounds in the mouth. The mode of the H. gingivalis infection in case 2 is uncertain. These are the first cases of H. gingivalis infection reported from Iceland and the second report from the Nordic countries.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22305655/