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The Journal of veterinary medical science2013; 76(2); 281-284; doi: 10.1292/jvms.13-0437

Meningoencephalitis caused by Halicephalobus gingivalis in a thoroughbred gelding.

Abstract: A 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was euthanized after a 2-month period of abnormal neurological signs, such as circling left in his pen and hitting his head and body against the wall. After the horse was euthanized on the farm, a half of the brain and whole blood were submitted for diagnostic tests. Histopathological examination of the brain revealed granulomatous and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis with numerous intralesional nematodes, predominantly affecting the cerebrum. Multifocal malacic foci were scattered in the brain parenchyma. The intralesional parasites were identified as Halicephalobus gingivalis by morphological features and PCR testing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of meningoencephalitis caused by H. gingivalis in the horse in Korea.
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Publication Date: 2013-10-09 PubMed ID: 24107465PubMed Central: PMC3982813DOI: 10.1292/jvms.13-0437Google 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.

This research investigates a case of meningoencephalitis, a brain infection caused by the nematode Halicephalobus gingivalis, in a 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding horse, which is a first report in Korea.

Overview

The study presents an investigation into the case of a 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding horse who showed abnormal neurological signs and was euthanized. The post-mortem examination revealed the presence of a brain infection caused by a nematode, Halicephalobus gingivalis. This is considered to be the first such recorded case in Korea.

Signs and Euthanasia

  • The horse exhibited abnormal signs over a 2-month period like circling to his left in the pen and hitting his head and body against the wall.
  • Given the degradation of the horse’s health, it was eventually euthanized on the farm.

Examination and Findings

  • Diagnostic tests were performed on a half of the horse’s brain and whole blood that were submitted after euthanasia.
  • Analysis through histopathological examination revealed granulomatous and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis with numerous intralesional nematodes. This was predominantly affecting the cerebrum, one of the major parts of the brain.
  • Multifocal malacic foci, or softened areas of brain tissue due to necrosis, were discovered scattered in the brain parenchyma, the functional tissue in the brain.

Identification of Parasites

  • The intralesional parasites creating the infection were identified as Halicephalobus gingivalis.
  • The identification was done based on the morphological features of the parasites and PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) testing. PCR is a common laboratory technique used to make multiple copies of a segment of DNA for easier study and analysis.

Significance of Findings

  • The study is important as it reports the first known case in Korea of meningoencephalitis in a horse caused by H. gingivalis.
  • This highlights the need for awareness and research in dealing with this parasitic infection in equines in this region.

Cite This Article

APA
Jung JY, Lee KH, Rhyoo MY, Byun JW, Bae YC, Choi E, Kim C, Jean YH, Lee MH, Yoon SS. (2013). Meningoencephalitis caused by Halicephalobus gingivalis in a thoroughbred gelding. J Vet Med Sci, 76(2), 281-284. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.13-0437

Publication

The Journal of veterinary medical science
ISSN: 1347-7439
NlmUniqueID: 9105360
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 76
Issue: 2
Pages: 281-284

Researcher Affiliations

Jung, Ji-Youl
  • Animal Disease Diagnosis Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, 175 Anyang-ro, Manan-gu, Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 430-757, Republic of Korea.
Lee, Kyung-Hyun
    Rhyoo, Moon-Young
      Byun, Jae-Won
        Bae, You-Chan
          Choi, Eunsang
            Kim, Changsig
              Jean, Young-Hwa
                Lee, Myoung-Heon
                  Yoon, Soon-Seek

                    MeSH Terms

                    • Animals
                    • Brain / parasitology
                    • Brain / pathology
                    • Fatal Outcome
                    • Histological Techniques
                    • Horse Diseases / parasitology
                    • Horse Diseases / pathology
                    • Horses
                    • Phylogeny
                    • Rhabditida Infections / pathology
                    • Rhabditida Infections / veterinary

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                    Citations

                    This article has been cited 6 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;.
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                    2. Kang HW, Lee EY, Lee KK, Ko MK, Park JY, Kim YH, Lee K, Choi EJ, Kim J, So B, Park CK, Jeoung HY. Evaluation of the Variability of the ORF34, ORF68, and MLST Genes in EHV-1 from South Korea. Pathogens 2021 Apr 2;10(4).
                      doi: 10.3390/pathogens10040425pubmed: 33918404google scholar: lookup
                    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.
                      doi: 10.1002/vms3.142pubmed: 30672155google scholar: lookup
                    4. 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
                    5. 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.
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                    6. 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.
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