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Home / Equine Research Bank / Parasit Vectors / Isolation and molecular characterisation of Halicephalobus g...
Parasites & vectors2017; 10(1); 135; doi: 10.1186/s13071-017-2070-3

Isolation and molecular characterisation of Halicephalobus gingivalis in the brain of a horse in Piedmont, Italy.

Abstract: A fatal case of meningoencephalitis was reported in a 13-year-old Koninklijk Warmbloed Paard Nederland stallion, suspected of West Nile virus (WNV) infection, in the Piedmont region of Italy. Clinical signs included right head tilt and circling, depression alternated with excitability, fever and lateral strabismus. Combined treatment consisting of dimethylsulfoxide, dexamethasone, sulphonamides and sedative was administered, but because of the poor conditions the horse was euthanatized and submitted for necropsy. At post-mortem examination no skin lesions were observed, all organs appeared normal on gross evaluation and only head and blood samples were further investigated. Neuropathological findings consisted of granulomatous meningoencephalitis and larvae and adult females of Halicephalobus gingivalis were isolated and identified from the digested brain. Frozen brain was submitted to PCR amplification and 220 bp multiple sequence alignment was analysed by Bayesian phylogenetic analysis. Phylogenetic inference revealed that the isolate belongs to H. gingivalis Lineage 3. WN surveillance can help to deepen our knowledge of horse neurological disorders investigating their causes and incidence. Moreover, it can help to understand the geographic distribution of the H. gingivalis, to unravel epidemiological information, and to estimate risk for humans.
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Publication Date: 2017-03-07 PubMed ID: 28270191PubMed Central: PMC5341423DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2070-3Google 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 research article discusses an observed case of meningoencephalitis, caused by the parasite Halicephalobus gingivalis, in a horse from the Piedmont region of Italy. The study used PCR amplification and phylogenetic analysis to confirm the presence of the parasite.

Meningoencephalitis in horse

  • This research begins by describing the unusual case of a 13-year-old horse that showed signs of the West Nile Virus (WNV), including fever, depression, restlessness and strabismus.
  • The infection was unresponsive to a combined treatment of several drugs and the horse was eventually euthanatized. On examination, no visible skin lesions were identified and all organs appeared normal, leading to further investigation in the horse’s brain and blood.

Isolation of Halicephalobus gingivalis

  • Post-mortem examination of the horse’s brain revealed granulomatous meningoencephalitis, a neurological disorder not typically observed in horses.
  • The researchers isolated and identified larvae and adult females of the uncommon parasite, Halicephalobus gingivalis, in the horse’s brain. The recognition of this parasite is significant, as it is often associated with fatal infections in horses and has been found in the human brain as well.

Phylogenetic analysis and implications

  • To confirm the presence of H. gingivalis, the researchers performed molecular characterisation through PCR amplification resulting in a 220 bp multiple sequence alignment. Following this, Bayesian phylogenetic analysis was carried out on the sequenced sample.
  • The phylogenetic analysis helped determine that the isolated organism belongs to H. gingivalis Lineage 3.
  • The study suggests that continued surveillance of West Nile Virus can deepen our understanding of equine neurological disorders. Additionally, it highlights the need to understand the geographical distribution of H. gingivalis to estimate risk for humans.

Cite This Article

APA
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. (2017). Isolation and molecular characterisation of Halicephalobus gingivalis in the brain of a horse in Piedmont, Italy. Parasit Vectors, 10(1), 135. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-017-2070-3

Publication

Parasites & vectors
ISSN: 1756-3305
NlmUniqueID: 101462774
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
Pages: 135
PII: 135

Researcher Affiliations

Pintore, Maria Domenica
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Piemonte Liguria and Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy.
Cerutti, Francesco
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Piemonte Liguria and Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy.
D'Angelo, Antonio
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Corona, Cristiano
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Piemonte Liguria and Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy.
Gazzuola, Paola
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Piemonte Liguria and Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy.
Masoero, Loretta
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Piemonte Liguria and Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy.
Colombo, Corrado
  • Practioner from Turin, Turin, Italy.
Bona, Roberto
  • Practioner from Turin, Turin, Italy.
Cantile, Carlo
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Peletto, Simone
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Piemonte Liguria and Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy.
Casalone, Cristina
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Piemonte Liguria and Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy.
Iulini, Barbara
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Piemonte Liguria and Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy. barbara.iulini@izsto.it.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / parasitology
  • Brain / pathology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Meningoencephalitis / epidemiology
  • Meningoencephalitis / parasitology
  • Meningoencephalitis / veterinary
  • Rhabditida / classification
  • Rhabditida / isolation & purification
  • Rhabditida Infections / epidemiology
  • Rhabditida Infections / pathology
  • Rhabditida Infections / veterinary

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Pillai VV, Mudd LJ, Sola MF. Disseminated Halicephalobus gingivalis infection in a horse.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2023 Mar;35(2):173-177.
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  2. Wollanke B, Gerhards H, Ackermann K. Infectious Uveitis in Horses and New Insights in Its Leptospiral Biofilm-Related Pathogenesis.. Microorganisms 2022 Feb 7;10(2).
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  3. Noiva R, Ruivo P, de Carvalho LM, Fonseca C, Fevereiro M, Carvalho P, Orge L, Monteiro M, Peleteiro MC. First description of a fatal equine infection with Halicephalobus gingivalis in Portugal. Relevance for public health.. Vet Med Sci 2019 May;5(2):222-229.
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