Parelaphostrongylus tenuis Cerebrospinal Nematodiasis in a Horse with Cervical Scoliosis and Meningomyelitis.
Abstract: There are reports of horses with acute onset acquired cervical scoliosis and cutaneous analgesia. The underlying dorsal gray column myelitis that produces these neurologic signs has been only presumptively attributed to migration of Parelaphostrongylus tenuis within the spinal cord. Despite previous confirmation brain by polymerase chain reaction testing, of P. tenuis within the brain of horses by polymerase chain reaction testing, genetic testing has failed to definitively identify the presence of this parasite in cases of equine myelitis. This case report provides molecular confirmation via polymerase chain reaction of P. tenuis within the cervical spinal cord of a horse with scoliosis and cutaneous analgesia.
Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2017-03-20 PubMed ID: 28317172PubMed Central: PMC5435076DOI: 10.1111/jvim.14691Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Case Reports
Summary
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This research article reports a case of a horse suffering from acquired cervical scoliosis and skin numbness, caused by a parasite named Parelaphostrongylus tenuis that infests the spinal cord.
Overview of the Research
- This research paper focuses on a case study of a horse suffering from commonly observed conditions of sudden onset of cervical scoliosis (a condition where the spine twists and develops an abnormal curve) and cutaneous analgesia (loss of sensation or numbness of the skin).
- It seeks to link these neurological conditions with the presence of a specific parasite named Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, within the horse’s spinal cord.
The Parelaphostrongylus Tenuis Parasite
- The origin of these neurological impairments has been speculative, mostly associated with the presence and activity of the P. tenuis parasite in the spinal cord.
- The P. tenuis parasite has previously been detected in the horse’s brain via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing. PCR testing is a laboratory method used to make multiple copies of a segment of DNA.
- Despite the earlier detection, the genetic tests have not conclusively identified this parasite’s presence in the spinal cord in other cases of horses suffering from myelitis (inflammation of spinal cord).
The Case Report and Findings
- This case report contributes a significant finding to the hypothesis. The researchers confirm the presence of P. tenuis inside the cervical (neck area) spinal cord of the impacted horse, thus establishing the correlation between the symptoms and the parasite infection.
- This confirmation was achieved through successful identification of this parasite’s molecular signature in the horse’s cervical spinal cord using Polymerase Chain Reaction testing.
Implications of the Research
- This evidence advances the understanding of the causes of some severe neurological disorders in horses.
- This case report could be a significant step towards developing more precise diagnostic methods and targeted treatment plans for similar cases in the future.
Cite This Article
APA
Mittelman NS, Divers TJ, Engiles JB, Gerhold R, Ness S, Scrivani PV, Southard T, Johnson AL.
(2017).
Parelaphostrongylus tenuis Cerebrospinal Nematodiasis in a Horse with Cervical Scoliosis and Meningomyelitis.
J Vet Intern Med, 31(3), 890-893.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.14691 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Kennett Square, PA.
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Equine and Farm Animal Hospital, Ithaca, NY.
- New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Kennett Square, PA.
- University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN.
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Equine and Farm Animal Hospital, Ithaca, NY.
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Equine and Farm Animal Hospital, Ithaca, NY.
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Equine and Farm Animal Hospital, Ithaca, NY.
- New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Kennett Square, PA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Central Nervous System Infections / complications
- Central Nervous System Infections / diagnosis
- Central Nervous System Infections / parasitology
- Central Nervous System Infections / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Meningitis / diagnosis
- Meningitis / parasitology
- Meningitis / veterinary
- Metastrongyloidea
- Myelitis / diagnosis
- Myelitis / parasitology
- Myelitis / veterinary
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Scoliosis / etiology
- Scoliosis / parasitology
- Scoliosis / veterinary
- Strongylida Infections / complications
- Strongylida Infections / parasitology
- Strongylida Infections / veterinary
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This article includes 26 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Garcia J, Smith J, Fry M, Mulon PY. Clinical presentation, diagnostics, treatment, and outcome of goats diagnosed with presumptive cerebrospinal nematodiasis at a veterinary teaching hospital. Can Vet J 2023 May;64(5):419-425.
- Poad L, De Decker S, Fenn J. Acquired cervical scoliosis in two dogs with inflammatory central nervous system disease. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Sep;35(5):2421-2426.
- Countrymann K, Ruby R, Miller AD. A retrospective study of 171 cases of equine meningoencephalomyelitis in the United States, 1996-2023. J Vet Diagn Invest 2026 Jan;38(1):100-111.
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