FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Veterinary research communications2023; doi: 10.1007/s11259-023-10188-w

The first molecular isolation of Halicephalobus gingivalis from horses in Iran.

Abstract: Parasitic infections pose significant threats to humans' and animals' well-being worldwide. Among these parasites, Halicephalobus spp., a genus of nematodes, has gained attention due to its ability to cause severe infections in various animal species, including horses. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Halicephalobus spp., specifically focusing on Halicephalobus gingivalis in horses. Methods: In July 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted in northern Iran to determine the prevalence of Halicephalobus spp. Using standard coprological techniques, 141 fecal samples from randomly selected horses were analyzed for GI helminth eggs. The Halicephalobus spp. eggs present in faeces were identified by molecular methods. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the partial 5' variable region (~ 390 base pairs) of 18 S DNA using SSUA_F and SSU22_R primers. Furthermore, the PCR products obtained were sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis was performed using available sequences from GenBank. Results: Microscopic examination of 141 fresh faecal samples revealed 5 fecal samples were infected with small ellipsoidal nematode eggs ranging between 40 and 50 × 50-60 μm. This study's PCR amplicons showed ~ 390 bp bands on 2.0% agarose gel. A partial sequence of 18 S DNA (363 bp) was obtained herein (GenBank accession no. OQ843456). Conclusions: Overall, using molecular tools represents a significant step forward in diagnosing and managing the Halicephalobus gingivalis infections in horses.
© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2023-08-05 PubMed ID: 37541991PubMed Central: 5771167DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10188-wGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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 main goal of the study was to investigate the prevalence (how widespread) of parasitic infections from the nematode genus Halicephalobus in horses, with a specific focus on Halicephalobus gingivalis. In essence, the researchers wanted to find out how common this parasite is among horses in the studied area.

Materials and Methods:

  1. Location and Time: The study was conducted in northern Iran in July 2022.
  2. Sample Collection: Researchers collected fecal samples from 141 randomly selected horses. These samples were examined to identify GI helminth eggs, which are a type of parasitic worm egg.
  3. Examination: Standard coprological techniques were used initially to identify the presence of the parasite in the feces.
  4. Molecular Analysis: To get a more precise identification, they used molecular methods. Specifically, they applied Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to amplify a specific part of the parasite’s DNA. The targeted DNA was a part of the 18 S DNA using SSUA_F and SSU22_R primers. This allows for a more accurate and specific identification of the parasite in the samples.
  5. Sequencing: After PCR, the products obtained were sequenced to determine their specific DNA patterns. This can be useful for confirming the species of the parasite and comparing it to known sequences in databases like GenBank.

Results:

  1. Findings from Fecal Examination: Out of the 141 horse fecal samples examined, 5 were found to contain small ellipsoidal nematode eggs. This indicates a presence of the parasite.
  2. Molecular Analysis Results: The PCR analysis showed bands corresponding to approximately 390 base pairs on a 2.0% agarose gel, indicating successful amplification of the targeted DNA region.
  3. DNA Sequence: The sequenced DNA was a partial sequence of the 18 S DNA, 363 base pairs in length. This sequence was documented in the GenBank with the accession number OQ843456.

Conclusions:

  1. Importance of Molecular Tools: The study highlights the significance of using molecular tools, like PCR and sequencing, in diagnosing parasitic infections. These methods provided a precise identification of the Halicephalobus gingivalis infection in horses.
  2. Prevalence: The presence of Halicephalobus gingivalis in the samples suggests that it is indeed present in the horse population of northern Iran, though the exact prevalence rate would require a larger sample size for a more definitive percentage.
  3. Implication: Recognizing and diagnosing the presence of such parasites is crucial for managing and treating infected horses, ensuring their health and well-being.

Cite This Article

APA
Faghihzadeh Gorji F, Sadr S, Sharifiyazdi H, Borji H. (2023). The first molecular isolation of Halicephalobus gingivalis from horses in Iran. Vet Res Commun. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-023-10188-w

Publication

Veterinary research communications
ISSN: 1573-7446
NlmUniqueID: 8100520
Country: Switzerland
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Faghihzadeh Gorji, Faezeh
  • Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
Sadr, Soheil
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
Sharifiyazdi, Hassan
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
Borji, Hassan
  • Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. hborji@um.ac.ir.

References

This article includes 23 references
  1. Anderson RC, Linder KE, Peregrine AS. Halicephalobus gingivalis (Stefanski, 1954) from a fatal infection in a horse in Ontario, Canada with comments on the validity of H. deletrix and a review of the genus.. Parasite 1998 Sep;5(3):255-61.
    doi: 10.1051/parasite/1998053255pubmed: 9772725google scholar: lookup
  2. Anwar MA, Gokozan HN, Ball MK, Otero J, McGwire BS. Fatal human eosinophilic meningo-encephalitis caused by CNS co-infection with Halicephalobus gingivalis and West Nile virus.. Parasitol Int 2015 Oct;64(5):417-20.
    doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2015.06.001pubmed: 26050925google scholar: lookup
  3. Davis JL. Ocular manifestations of systemic disease. Equine Ophthalmol 591–623.
  4. de Sant’Ana FJ, Ferreira J, Costa D, De Resende YL, R M, Barros CS. Granulomatous meningoencephalitis due to Halicephalobus gingivalis in a horse. Braz J Vet Pathol 5:12–15.
  5. Dorris M, Viney ME, Blaxter ML. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the genus Strongyloides and related nematodes.. Int J Parasitol 2002 Nov;32(12):1507-17.
    doi: 10.1016/S0020-7519(02)00156-Xpubmed: 12392916google scholar: lookup
  6. Enemark HL, Hansen MS, Jensen TK, Larsen G, Al-Sabi MN. An outbreak of bovine meningoencephalomyelitis with identification of Halicephalobus gingivalis.. Vet Parasitol 2016 Mar 15;218:82-6.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.01.014pubmed: 26872932google scholar: lookup
  7. Evans R, Bhagani S, Haque T, Harber M. Infectious complications of transplantation. Primer on Nephrology Springer, pp 1627–1661.
  8. Fonderie P, de Vries C, Verryken K, Ducatelle R, Moens T, van Loon G, Bert W. Maxillary granulomatous inflammation caused by Halicephalobus gingivalis (Nematoda) in a Connemara mare in Belgium. J Equine Veterinary Sci 33(3):186–190.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2012.05.066google scholar: lookup
  9. Furr M. Parasitic infections of the central nervous system. Equine neurology, 2nd edn. John Wiley & Sons, Ames, Iowa pp 306–313.
    doi: 10.1002/9781118993712.ch23google scholar: lookup
  10. Henneke C, Jespersen A, Jacobsen S, Nielsen MK, McEvoy F, Jensen HE. The distribution pattern of Halicephalobus gingivalis in a horse is suggestive of a haematogenous spread of the nematode. Acta Vet Scand 56(1):1–4.
    doi: 10.1186/s13028-014-0056-0google scholar: lookup
  11. Hermosilla C, Coumbe KM, Habershon-Butcher J, Schöniger S. Fatal equine meningoencephalitis in the United Kingdom caused by the panagrolaimid nematode Halicephalobus gingivalis: case report and review of the literature.. Equine Vet J 2011 Nov;43(6):759-63.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00332.xpubmed: 21496093google scholar: lookup
  12. Isaza R, Schiller CA, Stover J, Smith PJ, Greiner EC. Halicephalobus gingivalis (Nematoda) infection in a Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi).. J Zoo Wildl Med 2000 Mar;31(1):77-81.
    doi: 10.1638/1042-7260(2000)031[0077:HGNIIA]2.0.CO;2pubmed: 10884129google scholar: lookup
  13. Jung JY, Lee KH, Rhyoo MY, Byun JW, Bae YC, Choi E, Kim C, Jean YH, Lee MH, Yoon SS. Meningoencephalitis caused by Halicephalobus gingivalis in a thoroughbred gelding.. J Vet Med Sci 2014 Mar 1;76(2):281-4.
    doi: 10.1292/jvms.13-0437pubmed: 24107465google scholar: lookup
  14. Kinde H, Mathews M, Ash L, St Leger J. Halicephalobus gingivalis (H. deletrix) infection in two horses in southern California.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2000 Mar;12(2):162-5.
    doi: 10.1177/104063870001200213pubmed: 10730949google scholar: lookup
  15. Kumar R, Patil RD. Cryptic etiopathological conditions of equine nervous system with special emphasis on viral diseases.. Vet World 2017 Dec;10(12):1427-1438.
    doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2017.1427-1438pubmed: 29391683pmc: 5771167google scholar: lookup
  16. 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.
    doi: 10.1128/JCM.00032-15pubmed: 25694532pmc: 4400780google scholar: lookup
  17. 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. Veterinary Med Sci 5(2):222–229.
    doi: 10.1002/vms3.142google scholar: lookup
  18. 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
  19. Papadi B, Boudreaux C, Tucker JA, Mathison B, Bishop H, Eberhard ME. Halicephalobus gingivalis: a rare cause of fatal meningoencephalomyelitis in humans.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2013 Jun;88(6):1062-4.
    doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0730pubmed: 23509120pmc: 3752803google scholar: lookup
  20. Pintore MD, Cerutti F, D’Angelo A, Corona C, Gazzuola P, Masoero L, Colombo C, Bona R, Cantile C, Peletto S. Isolation and molecular characterisation of Halicephalobus gingivalis in the brain of a horse in Piedmont, Italy. Parasites & vectors 10(1):1–6.
    doi: 10.1186/s13071-017-2070-3google scholar: lookup
  21. Roullet A, Semin MO, Raymond-Letron I, Cuevas‐Ramos G. Massive mandible osteolysis caused by Halicephalobus gingivalis in a mare. Veterinary Record Case Reports 2(1), e000017.
  22. Tamura K, Nei M. Estimation of the number of nucleotide substitutions in the control region of mitochondrial DNA in humans and chimpanzees.. Mol Biol Evol 1993 May;10(3):512-26.
    pubmed: 8336541doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a040023google scholar: lookup
  23. Tamura K, Stecher G, Peterson D, Filipski A, Kumar S. MEGA6: molecular evolutionary genetics analysis version 6.0. Mol Biol Evol 30(12):2725–2729.

Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Faghihzadeh Gorji F, Sadr S, Eshrati H, Borji H. An investigation of the prevalence of equine filariosis in North and Northeast of Iran. J Parasit Dis 2024 Mar;48(1):163-167.
    doi: 10.1007/s12639-023-01643-1pubmed: 38440766google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,727 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.