Equine neural angiostrongylosis.
Abstract: Verminous encephalomyelitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae was diagnosed in 2 foals at necropsy. The principal clinical feature was tetraparesis, although history and neurological examination revealed progressive and multifocal neurological disease. At presentation, a tentative diagnosis of parasitic larval migration involving the central nervous system (CNS), presumably due to Strongylus vulgaris, was proposed. Dissection of the spinal cord in one case resulted in recovery of intact larvae of both sexes of A. cantonensis. In both foals, histopathology of the brain and spinal cord revealed nematode sections which were consistent with A. cantonensis larvae.
Publication Date: 1991-02-01 PubMed ID: 2025204DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1991.tb03131.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article discusses the diagnosis of a rare parasitic disease, equine neural angiostrongylosis, in two foals. Angiostrongylus cantonensis, a type of parasite, was identified as the cause of the disease which manifested as tetraparesis and other neurological issues.
Diagnosis and Symptoms
- The article highlights a medical situation where two foals were found to be suffering from verminous encephalomyelitis, a condition which is caused by the larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis.
- The key clinical symptom exhibited by the foals was tetraparesis, a severe weakness affecting all four limbs. The disease’s progression was characterized by a range of neurological disorders, indicating that it was impacting multiple areas of the foals’ nervous systems.
- The initial assessment suggested that the foals were suffering from a parasitic infection affecting their central nervous system, possibly caused by Strongylus vulgaris, a different type of parasite.
Confirmation of Angiostrongylus cantonensis
- Upon dissection of the spinal cord of one foal, intact larvae from male and female A. cantonensis parasites were discovered. This identification enabled the researchers to move from a preliminary diagnosis to a more definite conclusion.
- Further histopathological examination of the foals’ brain and spinal cord confirmed the presence of nematode sections, which were consistent with A. cantonensis larvae. Histopathology involves the microscopic examination of tissue in order to study the manifestations of disease.
Significance
- This research article underscores the importance of accurate parasitic diagnosis in equine health, as similar symptoms could be caused by different parasites. In this case, the initial thought was that a completely different parasite, Strongylus vulgaris, might be responsible.
- The definite identification of A. cantonensis as the cause provides crucial insight into equine neural angiostrongylosis, a rare and significant equine disease, adding to the pool of knowledge required for effective diagnosis and treatment of such conditions in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Wright JD, Kelly WR, Waddell AH, Hamilton J.
(1991).
Equine neural angiostrongylosis.
Aust Vet J, 68(2), 58-60.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1991.tb03131.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University of Queensland.
MeSH Terms
- Angiostrongylus / isolation & purification
- Animals
- Brain / parasitology
- Brain / pathology
- Encephalomyelitis / parasitology
- Encephalomyelitis / pathology
- Encephalomyelitis / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Nematode Infections / parasitology
- Nematode Infections / pathology
- Nematode Infections / veterinary
- Spinal Cord / parasitology
- Spinal Cord / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Liatis T, Madden M, Marioni-Henry K. Bruxism in awake dogs as a clinical sign of forebrain disease: 4 cases. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Nov;36(6):2132-2141.
- Patial S, Delcambre BA, DiGeronimo PM, Conboy G, Vatta AF, Bauer R. Verminous meningoencephalomyelitis in a red kangaroo associated with Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection. J Vet Diagn Invest 2022 Jan;34(1):107-111.
- Bak EJ, Jean YH, Woo GH. Eosinophilic encephalomyelitis in horses caused by protostrongylid parasites. J Vet Sci 2017 Dec 31;18(4):551-554.
- Robles Mdel R, Kinsella JM, Galliari C, Navone GT. New host, geographic records, and histopathologic studies of Angiostrongylus spp (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae) in rodents from Argentina with updated summary of records from rodent hosts and host specificity assessment. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2016 Mar;111(3):181-91.
- Spratt DM. Species of Angiostrongylus (Nematoda: Metastrongyloidea) in wildlife: A review. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2015 Aug;4(2):178-89.
- York EM, Butler CJ, Lord WD. Global decline in suitable habitat for Angiostrongylus ( = Parastrongylus) cantonensis: the role of climate change. PLoS One 2014;9(8):e103831.
- Šipková A, Javorská K, Anettová L, Pandian D, Cibulka P, Kačmaříková J, Novotný L, Modrý D. Hedgehogs and Angiostrongylus cantonensis: Uncovering the Role of Atelerix albiventris in the Parasite Life Cycle. Integr Zool 2026 Jan;21(1):104-115.
- Jones H, Nemeth NM, Piersma B, Hardman R, Shender LA, Boughton RK, Garrett KB, Castleberry N, Deitschel PJ, Teo XH, Radisic R, Dalton MF, Yabsley MJ. Living in the city: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a novel threat to an urban population of Florida burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia floridana) in south Florida. Parasit Vectors 2025 Feb 26;18(1):80.
- Šipková A, Anettová L, Izquierdo-Rodriguez E, Velič V, Modrý D. Release of Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae from live intermediate hosts under stress. Parasitol Res 2024 May 17;123(5):212.
- Pandian D, Najer T, Modrý D. An Overview of Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae), an Emerging Cause of Human Angiostrongylosis on the Indian Subcontinent. Pathogens 2023 Jun 20;12(6).
- Lee R, Pai TY, Churcher R, Davies S, Braddock J, Linton M, Yu J, Bell E, Wimpole J, Dengate A, Collins D, Brown N, Reppas G, Jaensch S, Wun MK, Martin P, Sears W, Šlapeta J, Malik R. Further studies of neuroangiostrongyliasis (rat lungworm disease) in Australian dogs: 92 new cases (2010-2020) and results for a novel, highly sensitive qPCR assay. Parasitology 2021 Feb;148(2):178-186.
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