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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Fatal equine meningoencephalitis in the United Kingdom cause...
Equine veterinary journal2011; 43(6); 759-763; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00332.x

Fatal equine meningoencephalitis in the United Kingdom caused by the panagrolaimid nematode Halicephalobus gingivalis: case report and review of the literature.

Abstract: A fatal case of eosinophilic and granulomatous meningoencephalitis caused by the free-living panagrolaimid nematode Halicephalobus gingivalis is reported in a 10-year-old Welsh gelding in the United Kingdom. Clinical examination first revealed behavioural abnormalities which rapidly progressed to severe ataxia, reduced mentation status and cranial nerve signs. Despite symptomatic treatment no amelioration of neurological signs was achieved and the horse was subjected to euthanasia. A complete post mortem examination revealed eosinophilic and granulomatous meningoencephalitis mainly affecting the cerebellum and brain stem with intralesional adult nematodes, larvae and eggs. There was also eosinophilic meningitis of the cervical spinal cord. The intralesional nematodes were morphologically consistent with the panagrolaimid nematode H. gingivalis. Although infection by this facultative neurotropic parasite is extremely rare, it needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of central nervous signs in horses and, in particular, other equine helminthic infection of the central nervous system. This fatal case is unusual since lesions were locally very extensive and the nematodes did not colonise haematogenously to other organs as seen often in equine halicephalobosis. As the taxonomy of H. gingivalis has changed and some recent reports in the literature still refer to this species as Micronema deletrix or Halicephalobus deletrix, we here provide a short update of the species and some insights on the order Tylenchida, which contains free-living nematodes with parasitic tendencies.
© 2011 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2011-03-04 PubMed ID: 21496093DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00332.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study recounts a fatal case of a horse in the UK infected with the panagrolaimid nematode Halicephalobus gingivalis, causing serious meningoencephalitis which ultimately led to euthanasia. The research suggests further consideration of this rare parasite in differential diagnoses for central nervous system issues in horses.

Case Presentation

  • The subject of the study was a 10-year old Welsh gelding horse, which exhibited initial behavioral abnormalities.
  • These symptoms escalated into severe ataxia, reduced awareness, and cranial nerve signs.
  • Despite treatment being administered to alleviate the symptoms, the horse’s neurological condition did not improve.
  • The horse was ultimately euthanized due to the severity of its condition, and a post mortem examination was conducted.

Post Mortem Findings

  • The examination revealed eosinophilic and granulomatous meningoencephalitis affecting primarily the cerebellum and brain stem, with nematodes, larvae, and eggs present in the lesions.
  • A similar inflammation was found in the cervical spinal cord of the horse.
  • The nematodes found in the lesions were identified as belonging to the species Halicephalobus gingivalis.
  • This finding is uncommon as the nematodes in this case did not colonize other organs through the bloodstream, often seen in cases of equine halicephalobosis.

Halicephalobus Gingivalis and its Implications

  • The panagrolaimid nematode H. gingivalis, the causative agent in this case, is an extremely rare but potent neurotropic parasite.
  • This case study urges for the consideration of this parasite in differential diagnosis when assessing central nervous system disorders in horses and also other helminthic infections in the equine central nervous system.
  • The study also provides an update on the taxonomy of H. gingivalis, as some literature still refers to this species by its older names, Micronema deletrix or Halicephalobus deletrix.
  • This research also provides insights into the order Tylenchida, which includes free-living nematodes that can have parasitic tendencies.

Cite This Article

APA
Hermosilla C, Coumbe KM, Habershon-Butcher J, Schöniger S. (2011). Fatal equine meningoencephalitis in the United Kingdom caused by the panagrolaimid nematode Halicephalobus gingivalis: case report and review of the literature. Equine Vet J, 43(6), 759-763. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00332.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 43
Issue: 6
Pages: 759-763

Researcher Affiliations

Hermosilla, C
  • Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK. chermosilla@rvc.ac.uk
Coumbe, K M
    Habershon-Butcher, J
      Schöniger, S

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Fatal Outcome
        • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
        • Horse Diseases / parasitology
        • Horses
        • Male
        • Meningoencephalitis / epidemiology
        • Meningoencephalitis / parasitology
        • Meningoencephalitis / veterinary
        • Nematoda / classification
        • Nematode Infections / parasitology
        • Nematode Infections / pathology
        • Nematode Infections / veterinary
        • United Kingdom / epidemiology

        Citations

        This article has been cited 11 times.
        1. Faghihzadeh Gorji F, Sadr S, Sharifiyazdi H, Borji H. The first molecular isolation of Halicephalobus gingivalis from horses in Iran. Vet Res Commun 2023 Aug 5;.
          doi: 10.1007/s11259-023-10188-wpubmed: 37541991google scholar: lookup
        2. Pillai VV, Mudd LJ, Sola MF. Disseminated Halicephalobus gingivalis infection in a horse. J Vet Diagn Invest 2023 Mar;35(2):173-177.
          doi: 10.1177/10406387221141698pubmed: 36482716google scholar: lookup
        3. Onyiche TE, Okute TO, Oseni OS, Okoro DO, Biu AA, Mbaya AW. Parasitic and zoonotic meningoencephalitis in humans and equids: Current knowledge and the role of Halicephalobus gingivalis. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2018 Feb;3(1):36-42.
          doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2017.12.002pubmed: 29774297google scholar: lookup
        4. Mittelman NS, Divers TJ, Engiles JB, Gerhold R, Ness S, Scrivani PV, Southard T, Johnson AL. Parelaphostrongylus tenuis Cerebrospinal Nematodiasis in a Horse with Cervical Scoliosis and Meningomyelitis. J Vet Intern Med 2017 May;31(3):890-893.
          doi: 10.1111/jvim.14691pubmed: 28317172google scholar: lookup
        5. Pintore MD, Cerutti F, D'Angelo A, Corona C, Gazzuola P, Masoero L, Colombo C, Bona R, Cantile C, Peletto S, Casalone C, Iulini B. Isolation and molecular characterisation of Halicephalobus gingivalis in the brain of a horse in Piedmont, Italy. Parasit Vectors 2017 Mar 7;10(1):135.
          doi: 10.1186/s13071-017-2070-3pubmed: 28270191google scholar: lookup
        6. Taulescu MA, Ionicã AM, Diugan E, Pavaloiu A, Cora R, Amorim I, Catoi C, Roccabianca P. First report of fatal systemic Halicephalobus gingivalis infection in two Lipizzaner horses from Romania: clinical, pathological, and molecular characterization. Parasitol Res 2016 Mar;115(3):1097-103.
          doi: 10.1007/s00436-015-4839-7pubmed: 26631187google scholar: lookup
        7. Lim CK, Crawford A, Moore CV, Gasser RB, Nelson R, Koehler AV, Bradbury RS, Speare R, Dhatrak D, Weldhagen GF. First human case of fatal Halicephalobus gingivalis meningoencephalitis in Australia. J Clin Microbiol 2015 May;53(5):1768-74.
          doi: 10.1128/JCM.00032-15pubmed: 25694532google scholar: lookup
        8. Henneke C, Jespersen A, Jacobsen S, Nielsen MK, McEvoy F, Jensen HE. The distribution pattern of Halicephalobus gingivalis in a horse is suggestive of a haematogenous spread of the nematode. Acta Vet Scand 2014 Sep 19;56(1):56.
          doi: 10.1186/s13028-014-0056-0pubmed: 25233889google scholar: lookup
        9. Jung JY, Lee KH, Rhyoo MY, Byun JW, Bae YC, Choi E, Kim C, Jean YH, Lee MH, Yoon SS. Meningoencephalitis caused by Halicephalobus gingivalis in a thoroughbred gelding. J Vet Med Sci 2014 Mar 1;76(2):281-4.
          doi: 10.1292/jvms.13-0437pubmed: 24107465google scholar: lookup
        10. Papadi B, Boudreaux C, Tucker JA, Mathison B, Bishop H, Eberhard ME. Halicephalobus gingivalis: a rare cause of fatal meningoencephalomyelitis in humans. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2013 Jun;88(6):1062-4.
          doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0730pubmed: 23509120google scholar: lookup
        11. Zapałowska A, Skwiercz A, Tereba A, Puchalski C, Malewski T. Next-Generation Sequencing for Evaluating the Soil Nematode Diversity and Its Role in Composting Processes. Int J Mol Sci 2023 Oct 30;24(21).
          doi: 10.3390/ijms242115749pubmed: 37958731google scholar: lookup
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