Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
First case of fatal equine meningoencephalitis caused by Halicephalobus gingivalis in Mexico.
- Journal:
- Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports
- Year:
- 2020
- Authors:
- Avila, V A et al.
- Affiliation:
- Departamento de Patologí
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old Andalusian horse in Mexico became very sick and showed signs like difficulty swallowing, fever, weakness, and unsteady movements. Sadly, the horse passed away despite receiving medical care. A thorough examination after death found inflammation in the brain and spinal cord, along with adult nematodes (a type of worm) and their larvae and eggs, which were identified as Halicephalobus gingivalis, a rare but serious cause of brain infection in horses. This case is significant because it is the first confirmed instance of this particular infection in horses in Mexico.
Abstract
Aberrant nematode larval migration in the CNS of horses is rare but frequently fatal; one of the main etiological agents involved in this illness is Halicephalobus gingivalis. This soil nematode has been associated with several fatal equine meningoencephalitis reports worldwide; however, it had never been diagnosed in horses of Mexico. A 10 year-old Andalusian horse presented dysphagia, fever, weakness, prostration and ataxia; the patient expired during the medical attention. Post mortem examination was performed and no gross alterations were found. Histopathology revealed meningoencephalitis, vasculitis and intralesional adult nematodes, larvae and eggs compatible with Halicephalobus spp. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the nuclear large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (LSU rDNA) of nematodes was performed from formalin-fixed and paraffin wax-embedded sections of brain. Posterior nucleotide sequence analysis of the amplified fragment identified the agent as H. gingivalis. To our knowledge, this is the first confirmed report of Halicephalobiasis in Mexico.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32448540/