Haycocknema-like nematodes in muscle fibres of a horse.
Abstract: A 14-year-old horse (imported to Switzerland from Ireland 8 years earlier) showed signs of chewing muscle atrophy. A severe chronic myositis, caused by numerous immature and mature female nematodes, was diagnosed in muscle samples obtained by biopsy and subsequently at necropsy. Most of the nematodes had invaded muscle fibres of the masseter, root of the tongue and anterior breast, only a few were found in the intermuscular interstitium. Isolated nematodes and parasite sections were clearly different from muscle larvae of Trichinella spp. but showed morphological similarities to Haycocknema perplexum, a nematode species (order Enoplida, family Robertdollfusidae) recently found in the musculature of a human patient in Australia. However, our material did not allow the precise identification of the nematode genus nor the unequivocal differentiation from Halicephalobus gingivalis. This species infects horses and humans and can cause severe granuloma formation in muscles and many other organ systems, but has never been observed to invade individual muscle fibres. Our findings show that nematodes of another genus than Trichinella may invade muscle fibres of the horse and cause myositis. These nematodes are provisionally regarded as Haycocknema-like.
Publication Date: 2006-04-17 PubMed ID: 16616813DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.02.042Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article discusses a case of a 14-year-old horse suffering from muscle atrophy due to an infestation by Haycocknema-like nematodes – a type of tiny roundworm.
Context of the Case
- The horse in the study was imported to Switzerland from Ireland around eight years prior to the detection of its health issue.
- The horse showed signs of muscle atrophy, specifically in the chewing muscles.
Nature of the Problem
- Upon biopsy and necropsy, the horse was diagnosed with severe chronic myositis, caused by numerous immature and mature female nematodes in muscle samples.
- Most of these nematodes were found to have invaded muscle fibers in areas such as the masseter (a jaw muscle), tongue root, and anterior breast, whereas only a few were discovered in the intermuscular interstitium, the connective tissue lying between individual muscle fibers.
Identification of the Parasites
- The isolated nematodes and parasite sections looked distinct from muscle larvae of Trichinella spp. (a genus of roundworm), but carried morphological similarities to Haycocknema perplexum, another type of nematode.
- The found nematode species, order Enoplida, family Robertdollfusidae, was recently discovered in the musculature of a human patient in Australia.
- Nevertheless, the research couldn’t confirmed the precise identification of the nematode genus or establish a clear differentiation from the Halicephalobus gingivalis species.
Impact and Learning Points
- The case presents a note of caution, with indications that nematodes of a different genus than Trichinella might invade muscle fibers in horses, causing myositis.
- Halicephalobus gingivalis, another species, is known to infect horses and humans, potentially resulting in severe granuloma formation in muscles and various other organ systems. However, it has not been found to invade individual muscle fibers in previous observations.
- The nematodes found in this study are tentatively classified as Haycocknema-like as a result of observed similarities.
Cite This Article
APA
Eckert J, Ossent P.
(2006).
Haycocknema-like nematodes in muscle fibres of a horse.
Vet Parasitol, 139(1-3), 256-261.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.02.042 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland. johanns.eckert@bluwin.ch
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Fatal Outcome
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / parasitology
- Muscle, Skeletal / parasitology
- Myositis / diagnosis
- Myositis / parasitology
- Myositis / pathology
- Myositis / veterinary
- Nematoda / classification
- Nematoda / isolation & purification
- Nematode Infections / diagnosis
- Nematode Infections / parasitology
- Nematode Infections / pathology
- Nematode Infections / veterinary
- Phylogeny
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Ward K, Krishnan A, R Iyengar K, Robertson T, White R, Urkude R. Haycocknema perplexum myositis: the first description of subclinical disease and a proposed distinctive triad to evoke clinical suspicion. BMJ Neurol Open 2022;4(1):e000290.
- Langner T, Otranto D, Bezerra-Santos MA, Franzen J, Johne A, Tonanzi D, Pfeffer M, Birka S. Detection of Spirocerca lupi and an unknown Trichinella-like nematode in raccoon (Procyon lotor). Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024 Apr;23:100911.
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