Equine onchocerciasis: lesions in the nuchal ligament of midwestern U.S. horses.
Abstract: Nuchal ligaments from midwestern U.S. horses infected with adult Onchocerca sp. were studied. The prevalence of Onchocerca sp. infection in horses increased with age. Ten percent of horses less than one year old were infected, 28% of horses one to five years old, 48% of horses six to 15 years old, and 90% of horses over 16 years old. Lesions in Onchocerca sp.-infected nuchal ligaments varied with age of the horse. Horses less than five years old had few or no lesions, whereas most horses six to 15 years old had focal mineralization and granuloma formation around adult worms. In infected nuchal ligaments of horses over 16 years old, mineralization was much greater and fewer normal parasites were found. Our data suggest that infection by viable parasites is terminated naturally.
Publication Date: 1982-01-01 PubMed ID: 7072081DOI: 10.1177/030098588201900104Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research examined infection rates and related lesions in nuchal ligaments of U.S. midwestern horses infected with the Onchocerca species, highlighting that infection rates and effects increased with age, with a notable increase in horses over 16 years old.
General Overview
- The research is centered on the infection of horses with the Onchocerca species, particularly focusing on the resulting lesions in the nuchal ligament, a significant part in the neck of the horse.
- The study was conducted in the midwestern United States, and the observations and conclusions concern the horse population in that area.
Prevalence of Onchocerca sp. Infection in Relation to Age
- The research indicates a rising prevalence of Onchocerca sp. infection in horses with increasing age.
- 10% of horses under one year old were found to be infected; this rose to 28% in horses aged one to five years old.
- The rate further escalated to 48% in horses aged six to 15 years old, and capped at 90% in horses aged over 16 years.
Effects of The Infection in Relation to Age
- Horses less than five years of age displayed few or no visible lesions on the nuchal ligament.
- In contrast, most horses in the age group six to 15 years showed focal mineralization and granuloma formation around adult worms, manifestations of the infection.
- There was an even more pronounced presence of the disease in horses over the age of 16, as mineralization was found to be significantly greater. However, fewer normal parasites were found in them, hinting that infection by viable parasites may end naturally.
Conclusions and Implications
- The study suggests that the Onchocerca species’ effect on a horse’s nuchal ligament is heavily age-dependent, with both infection rate and disease manifestation escalating with age.
- The observations made can form a basis for future studies and can help veterinarians devise strategies for early detection and treatment of equine onchocerciasis, especially in areas with similar demographics to the U.S. Midwest.
Cite This Article
APA
Schmidt GM, Krehbiel JD, Coley SC, Leid RW.
(1982).
Equine onchocerciasis: lesions in the nuchal ligament of midwestern U.S. horses.
Vet Pathol, 19(1), 16-22.
https://doi.org/10.1177/030098588201900104 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Ligaments / parasitology
- Ligaments / ultrastructure
- Neck
- Onchocerca
- Onchocerciasis / epidemiology
- Onchocerciasis / parasitology
- Onchocerciasis / pathology
- Onchocerciasis / veterinary
- United States
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Papini RA, Lubas G, Sgorbini M. Incidental Detection of Onchocerca Microfilariae in Donkeys (Equus asinus) in Italy: Report of Four Cases.. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:569916.
- Lia RP, Mutafchiev Y, Veneziano V, Giannelli A, Abramo F, Santoro M, Latrofa MS, Cantacessi C, Martin C, Otranto D, Bertuglia A, Riccio B. Filarial infection caused by Onchocerca boehmi (Supperer, 1953) in a horse from Italy.. Parasitol Res 2017 Jan;116(1):191-198.
- Solismaa M, Laaksonen S, Nylund M, Pitkänen E, Airakorpi R, Oksanen A. Filarioid nematodes in cattle, sheep and horses in Finland.. Acta Vet Scand 2008 Jun 16;50(1):20.
- Polley L. Onchocerca in horses from Western Canada and the northwestern United States: an abattoir survey of the prevalence of infection.. Can Vet J 1984 Mar;25(3):128-9.
- Marques SM, Scroferneker ML. Onchocerca cervicalis in horses from southern Brazil.. Trop Anim Health Prod 2004 Oct;36(7):633-6.
- McConnell LA, Leid RW. Aggregation of equine platelets by Onchocerca cervicalis collagen.. Am J Pathol 1983 Mar;110(3):290-6.
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