Sarcocystis gigantea infection associated with granulomatous eosinophilic myositis in a horse.
Abstract: The only species currently known to inhabit the fibers of skeletal and cardiac muscles in horses are , and . We describe herein the invasion of myofibers in a horse by , a sheep-specific species with low virulence in the original host. A hunter gelding was referred to a veterinary surgeon in Newmarket (UK). The anamnestic data reported that the horse had an initial history of swelling of the right forelimb with fluid on the front of the carpus and edema spreading up the forearm. Subsequently, 2 firm lumps were found on the left pectoral muscle adjacent to the axilla of the left forelimb. Histologic examination of biopsies from the lumps revealed multifocal granulomatous eosinophilic myositis associated with intact and degenerate encysted parasites, consistent with spp. Based on amplification and DNA sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene obtained from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks, was identified. The presence of sarcocysts in equine skeletal muscles has been considered an incidental finding, and there are only sporadic associated reports of myositis. Our finding suggests that some spp. have a wider intermediate host range than believed previously, and that of other species (not considered horse-associated) can invade the muscle fibers of equids, leading to myositis.
Publication Date: 2020-07-21 PubMed ID: 32687008PubMed Central: PMC7438657DOI: 10.1177/1040638720935847Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research paper discusses a specific case in a horse where the uncommon species Sarcocystis gigantea caused a granulomatous eosinophilic myositis, a condition where inflammation of the muscle tissues was observed. The study suggests that some Sarcocystis species may have a broader intermediate host range than previously believed.
Case Description
- The study revolves around a horse referred to a veterinary surgeon in Newmarket, UK with signs of limb swelling, edema and firm lumps in the pectoral muscle. These symptoms reflect a severe inflammatory response in the equine muscle tissue.
- The horse’s medical history revealed an initial swelling of the right forelimb with fluid on the carpus front and edema spreading up the forearm.
- Subsequently, two lumps were found on the left pectoral muscle adjacent to the axilla of the left forelimb.
- Biopsies from the lumps were taken for histological examination to determine the cause of the myositis.
Findings of Histologic Examination
- Histologic examination revealed a multifocal granulomatous eosinophilic myositis, a serious condition linked to intact and degenerate encysted parasites.
- The identified parasites were consistent with the species Sarcocystis, which typically invade the fibers of skeletal and cardiac muscles in horses.
- However, further DNA sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene derived from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks identified the specific species as Sarcocystis gigantea.
- This is interesting because Sarcocystis gigantea is usually a sheep-specific species, implying that it has jumped species and infected the horse’s muscle tissue.
Implications of the Study
- This uncommon case of Sarcocystis gigantea causing myositis in a horse suggests that certain Sarcocystis species may have a wider intermediate host range than previously understood.
- Therefore, non-horse-associated Sarcocystis species may be capable of invading the muscle fibers of equids, causing sporadic instances of myositis which have been considered incidental in the past.
- This discovery highlights the need for further research into the host range of different Sarcocystis species potentially responsible for equine diseases.
Cite This Article
APA
Veronesi F, Di Palma S, Gabrielli S, Morganti G, Milardi GL, Middleton B, Lepri E.
(2020).
Sarcocystis gigantea infection associated with granulomatous eosinophilic myositis in a horse.
J Vet Diagn Invest, 32(4), 611-615.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638720935847 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy (Veronesi, Morganti, Lepri).
- Department of Preclinical Development, Aptuit (Verona), Verona, Italy (Di Palma).
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (Gabrielli, Milardi).
- Blackdown Equine Clinic, Fernhurst, Haslemere, UK (Middleton).
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy (Veronesi, Morganti, Lepri).
- Department of Preclinical Development, Aptuit (Verona), Verona, Italy (Di Palma).
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (Gabrielli, Milardi).
- Blackdown Equine Clinic, Fernhurst, Haslemere, UK (Middleton).
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy (Veronesi, Morganti, Lepri).
- Department of Preclinical Development, Aptuit (Verona), Verona, Italy (Di Palma).
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (Gabrielli, Milardi).
- Blackdown Equine Clinic, Fernhurst, Haslemere, UK (Middleton).
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy (Veronesi, Morganti, Lepri).
- Department of Preclinical Development, Aptuit (Verona), Verona, Italy (Di Palma).
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (Gabrielli, Milardi).
- Blackdown Equine Clinic, Fernhurst, Haslemere, UK (Middleton).
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy (Veronesi, Morganti, Lepri).
- Department of Preclinical Development, Aptuit (Verona), Verona, Italy (Di Palma).
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (Gabrielli, Milardi).
- Blackdown Equine Clinic, Fernhurst, Haslemere, UK (Middleton).
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy (Veronesi, Morganti, Lepri).
- Department of Preclinical Development, Aptuit (Verona), Verona, Italy (Di Palma).
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (Gabrielli, Milardi).
- Blackdown Equine Clinic, Fernhurst, Haslemere, UK (Middleton).
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy (Veronesi, Morganti, Lepri).
- Department of Preclinical Development, Aptuit (Verona), Verona, Italy (Di Palma).
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (Gabrielli, Milardi).
- Blackdown Equine Clinic, Fernhurst, Haslemere, UK (Middleton).
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Muscular Dystrophies, Limb-Girdle / diagnosis
- Muscular Dystrophies, Limb-Girdle / parasitology
- Muscular Dystrophies, Limb-Girdle / pathology
- Myositis / diagnosis
- Myositis / parasitology
- Myositis / pathology
- Myositis / veterinary
- RNA, Protozoan / analysis
- RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / analysis
- Sarcocystis / isolation & purification
- Sarcocystosis / pathology
- Sarcocystosis / veterinary
- Sequence Analysis, DNA / veterinary
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Marandykina-Prakienė A, Butkauskas D, Gudiškis N, Juozaitytė-Ngugu E, Bagdonaitė DL, Kirjušina M, Calero-Bernal R, Prakas P. Sarcocystis Species Richness in Sheep and Goats from Lithuania.. Vet Sci 2023 Aug 11;10(8).
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