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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Ophthalmol / Subconjunctival nodule due to Setaria equina erratic migrati...
Veterinary ophthalmology2019; 22(6); 921-927; doi: 10.1111/vop.12675

Subconjunctival nodule due to Setaria equina erratic migration in a horse: First case report.

Abstract: An 18-month-old Arabian-English filly resident in southwest France was referred for evaluation of a conjunctival mass in the right eye (OD). A pink, solid, and mobile nodular formation, measuring approximately 1.2 × 0.8 cm was found under the superior nasal bulbar conjunctiva during an ophthalmic examination that was otherwise normal. The mass was surgically removed using a standing procedure. Cytological examination of fine-needle aspirates from the mass revealed a mixed eosinophilic-lymphocytic inflammation. Histological examination confirmed the dense and diffuse eosinophilic-lymphocytic infiltrate of the mass, and it revealed several cross sections of a parasitic nematode. The morphometric diagnosis identified an immature form of a filarial worm, and molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxydase subunit 1 (cox1) and 12S rRNA gene sequences led to further identification of the specimen as Setaria equina. Microfilaremia was not observed on fresh blood smears. There have been no signs of local recurrence after 18 months, nor any evidence of intraocular involvement. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first documented case of subconjunctival setariasis due to S equina in a horse.
© 2019 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
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Publication Date: 2019-05-02 PubMed ID: 31045314DOI: 10.1111/vop.12675Google 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.

In this study, an Arabian-English blend horse was observed with a conjunctival mass in her right eye which when surgically removed and examined was found to be a parasitic Setaria equina worm. This is reportedly the first documented case of subconjunctival setariasis due to Setaria equina in a horse.

Research Context and Overview

  • The study focuses on an 18-month-old Arabian-English filly situated in southwest France who was evaluated for a mass in the right eye, a scenario never documented before.
  • The horse was found to have a pink, solid, mobile nodular formation in its eye, which was found during a regular ophthalmic examination. The size of the nodule was approximately 1.2 x 0.8 cm.
  • The mass was surgically removed, and the procedure was conducted while the horse was standing.

Analysis and Discovery

  • Following the procedure, a fine-needle aspiration from the mass was examined cytologically and it showed a mixed eosinophilic-lymphocytic inflammation, i.e., an inflammation induced by an immune response which involved both eosinophil and lymphocyte white blood cells.
  • A deeper histological examination corroborated the mixed inflammation reaction and also led to the discovery of sections of a parasitic nematode or roundworm.

Identification of the Parasite

  • More specific identification processes identified the parasite as an immature filarial worm, a type of parasitic worm.
  • Advanced molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and 12S rRNA gene sequences, tools used in genetic classification, further specified the specimen as Setaria equina, a specific species of filarial worm known to infect horses.
  • No microfilarial presence, or instances of the minuscule form of this worm was found on the fresh blood smears, indicating the filly was not heavily infested.

Follow-up Observation

  • Post-surgery, the horse was monitored for 18 months and did not exhibit any signs of a local recurrence or evidence of intraocular involvement, suggesting successful removal of the parasite.
  • This study is significant as it is the first documented case of subconjunctival setariasis in a horse caused by Setaria equina, indicating a potential new path of infection for this parasite in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Regnier A, Martin C, Semin MO, Lienard E, Geffre A, Douet JY, Raymond-Letron I. (2019). Subconjunctival nodule due to Setaria equina erratic migration in a horse: First case report. Vet Ophthalmol, 22(6), 921-927. https://doi.org/10.1111/vop.12675

Publication

Veterinary ophthalmology
ISSN: 1463-5224
NlmUniqueID: 100887377
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 22
Issue: 6
Pages: 921-927

Researcher Affiliations

Regnier, Alain
  • Département des Sciences Cliniques, Ecole Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, Toulouse Cedex 3, France.
Martin, Coralie
  • Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle et CNRS CP52, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
Semin, Marie-Odile
  • Département des Sciences Biologiques et Fonctionnelles, Ecole Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, Toulouse Cedex 3, France.
Lienard, Emmanuel
  • Département des Sciences Biologiques et Fonctionnelles, Ecole Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, Toulouse Cedex 3, France.
Geffre, Anne
  • Département des Sciences Cliniques, Ecole Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, Toulouse Cedex 3, France.
Douet, Jean-Yves
  • Département des Sciences Cliniques, Ecole Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, Toulouse Cedex 3, France.
Raymond-Letron, Isabelle
  • Département des Sciences Biologiques et Fonctionnelles, Ecole Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, Toulouse Cedex 3, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Conjunctiva / parasitology
  • Conjunctiva / pathology
  • Conjunctiva / surgery
  • Conjunctival Diseases / parasitology
  • Conjunctival Diseases / pathology
  • Conjunctival Diseases / surgery
  • Conjunctival Diseases / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Nematode Infections / parasitology
  • Nematode Infections / pathology
  • Nematode Infections / surgery
  • Nematode Infections / veterinary
  • Phylogeny
  • Setaria Nematode / genetics
  • Setaria Nematode / isolation & purification

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Lanková S, Vejl P, Melounová M, Čílová D, Vadlejch J, Miklisová D, Jankovská I, Langrová I. Setaria cervi (Filarioidea, Onchocercidae) undressing in ungulates: altered morphology of developmental stages, their molecular detection and complete sequence cox1 gene. Parasitology 2021 Apr;148(5):598-611.
    doi: 10.1017/S0031182020002449pubmed: 33407959google scholar: lookup
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