Cutaneous and conjunctival habronemosis in horses treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Santa Catarina State University, Brazil.
Abstract: Habronemosis, also known as habronemiasis or habronematidosis, is a parasitic disease of equids caused by the larval stages of Habronematidae nematodes (Habronema muscae, Habronema microstoma, and Draschia megastoma) that are transmitted by muscid flies. The presence of aberrant infective larvae in the cutaneous and conjunctival tissues of these hosts results in granulomatous, exudative, and ulcerated lesions, also known as "summer sores." In this study, we present a retrospective analysis of habronemosis cases in horses from the municipality of Lages, located on the Santa Catarina Plateau, a region with high altitudes and a temperate climate that differs from regions of Brazil where such parasitosis usually occurs. The equids were examined from 2008 to 2020 at the Veterinary Hospital of Santa Catarina State University. Sixteen patients were diagnosed and treated using macrocyclic lactones and wound cleaning. Most cases were recorded in autumn in horses (10/16, 62.5%) over 15 years of age (11/16, 68.8%), and the lesions were more frequently located in the conjunctiva (11/16, 68.8%). In scientific dissemination media, this is the first report of habronemosis on the Santa Catarina Plateau, Brazil. This information will contribute to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of skin diseases in horses in this region. Habronemose (sin. habronemiasis, habronematidose) é uma doença parasitária em equídeos, causada pelos estágios larvais dos nematoides Habronematidae (Habronema muscae, Habronema microstomae Draschia megastoma) que são transmitidos por moscas muscídeas. A presença de larvas infectantes aberrantes nos tecidos cutâneos e conjuntivais desses hospedeiros resulta em lesões granulomatosas, exsudativas e ulceradas, também conhecidas como “feridas de verão”. No presente estudo, apresenta-se uma análise retrospectiva de casos de habronemose em equinos do município de Lages, localizado no Planalto de Santa Catarina, região com elevadas altitudes e clima temperado, diferindo das regiões do Brasil nas quais normalmente ocorre tal parasitose. Os equinos foram examinados de 2008 a 2020 no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina. Dezesseis pacientes foram diagnosticados e tratados com lactonas macrocíclicas e limpeza de feridas. A maioria dos casos foi registrada no outono em cavalos-(10/16, 62,5%) com mais de 15 anos de idade (11/16, 68,8%), e as lesões localizaram-se mais frequentemente na conjuntiva (11/16, 68,8%). Em meios de divulgação científica, este é o primeiro relato de habronemose no Planalto de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Essas informações contribuirão para o diagnóstico, tratamento e prevenção de dermatopatias em equídeos desta região.
Publication Date: 2024-09-06 PubMed ID: 39258599PubMed Central: PMC11452067DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612024049Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article is a retrospective study that examines cases of a parasitic disease called habronemosis found in horses treated at the Veterinary Hospital of Santa Catarina State University, Brazil, from 2008 to 2020. This disease, previously unreported in the region, was found primarily in horses over 15 years of age.
Understanding Habronemosis
- Habronemosis, also referred to as habronemiasis or habronematidosis, is a parasitic disease that affects equids, a family of mammals that includes horses, donkeys, and zebras.
- It is caused by the larval stages of the Habronematidae nematodes and is transmitted by muscid flies.
- The parasitic larvae induce granulomatous, exudative, and ulcerated lesions, often named “summer sores,” on the host’s skin and eyes.
Study Method and Findings
- The research conducted a retrospective examination of horses presented with habronemosis at the Veterinary Hospital of Santa Catarina State University over a period of 12 years (2008 to 2020).
- Sixteen patients were diagnosed with habronemosis over this period. The most effective treatment for the patients included the use of macrocyclic lactones and wound cleaning procedures.
- The majority of the infected horses were older than 15 years (68.8%), and the disease was most prevalent during the autumn season (62.5%).
- Most of the lesions were found in the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane that covers the front part of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids (68.8%).
Implications of the Study
- The research marks the first scientific report of habronemosis in the municipality of Lages, situated on the Santa Catarina Plateau in Brazil.
- Given that this plateau region has a temperate climate and high altitude, it contrasts with the typically warmer areas where habronemosis is usually found.
- The findings offer valuable information for diagnosing, treating, and preventing skin diseases in horses within this region, where habronemosis was previously unreported.
Cite This Article
APA
Américo L, Aquino LPCT, Moura AB, Ribeiro GSN, Fonteque JH, Chryssafidis AL.
(2024).
Cutaneous and conjunctival habronemosis in horses treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Santa Catarina State University, Brazil.
Rev Bras Parasitol Vet, 33(3), e004224.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-29612024049 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratório de Parasitologia e Doenças Parasitárias - LAPAR, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Centro de Ciências Agroveterinárias, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina - UDESC, Lages, SC, Brasil.
- Laboratório de Parasitologia e Doenças Parasitárias - LAPAR, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Centro de Ciências Agroveterinárias, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina - UDESC, Lages, SC, Brasil.
- Laboratório de Parasitologia e Doenças Parasitárias - LAPAR, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Centro de Ciências Agroveterinárias, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina - UDESC, Lages, SC, Brasil.
- Hospital Veterinário, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Centro de Ciências Agroveterinárias, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina - UDESC, Lages, SC, Brasil.
- Hospital Veterinário, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Centro de Ciências Agroveterinárias, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina - UDESC, Lages, SC, Brasil.
- Laboratório de Parasitologia e Doenças Parasitárias - LAPAR, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Centro de Ciências Agroveterinárias, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina - UDESC, Lages, SC, Brasil.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses / parasitology
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Retrospective Studies
- Male
- Female
- Spirurida Infections / veterinary
- Spirurida Infections / diagnosis
- Spirurida Infections / parasitology
- Spirurida Infections / epidemiology
- Hospitals, Animal
- Conjunctival Diseases / parasitology
- Conjunctival Diseases / veterinary
- Conjunctival Diseases / diagnosis
- Skin Diseases, Parasitic / diagnosis
- Skin Diseases, Parasitic / veterinary
- Skin Diseases, Parasitic / parasitology
- Skin Diseases, Parasitic / epidemiology
- Spiruroidea / isolation & purification
Conflict of Interest Statement
Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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