Maxillary osteomyelitis due to Halicephalobus gingivalis and fatal dissemination in a horse

Gracia-Calvo, LA; Martín‐Cuervo, María; Durán, ME; Vieítez,; Serrano, Francisco; Jiménez, J; Ezquerra, Luis Javier

doi:10.4067/s0301-732x2014000300009

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(19 reference statements)

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“…Many cases of horses infected by H. gingivalis have been reported in different countries [ 1 , 4 , 7 – 10 , 12 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 24 – 33 ] suggesting a ubiquitous distribution of the nematode. On the other hand, only eight fatal cases of H. gingivalis infection have been reported in humans in Canada [ 34 ], Australia [ 35 ], and Germany [ 36 ] and five in the United States [ 5 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation and molecular characterisation of Halicephalobus gingivalis in the brain of a horse in Piedmont, Italy

et al. 2017

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BackgroundA fatal case of meningoencephalitis was reported in a 13-year-old Koninklijk Warmbloed Paard Nederland stallion, suspected of West Nile virus (WNV) infection, in the Piedmont region of Italy. Clinical signs included right head tilt and circling, depression alternated with excitability, fever and lateral strabismus. Combined treatment consisting of dimethylsulfoxide, dexamethasone, sulphonamides and sedative was administered, but because of the poor conditions the horse was euthanatized and submitted for necropsy.ResultsAt post-mortem examination no skin lesions were observed, all organs appeared normal on gross evaluation and only head and blood samples were further investigated. Neuropathological findings consisted of granulomatous meningoencephalitis and larvae and adult females of Halicephalobus gingivalis were isolated and identified from the digested brain. Frozen brain was submitted to PCR amplification and 220 bp multiple sequence alignment was analysed by Bayesian phylogenetic analysis.ConclusionsPhylogenetic inference revealed that the isolate belongs to H. gingivalis Lineage 3. WN surveillance can help to deepen our knowledge of horse neurological disorders investigating their causes and incidence. Moreover, it can help to understand the geographic distribution of the H. gingivalis, to unravel epidemiological information, and to estimate risk for humans.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation and molecular characterisation of Halicephalobus gingivalis in the brain of a horse in Piedmont, Italy

et al. 2017

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“…H. gingivalis infection in horses has been reported in five continents, usually involving a wide range of ages (from colts to aging adults) and breeds, leading almost invariably, to a fatal outcome (Anderson et al 1998;Lim et al 2015;Monoranu et al 2015). In Europe, the disease is reported in several countries, such as the United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Spain, Iceland and Romania (Rames et al 1995;Anderson et al 1998;Br€ ojer et al 2000;Johnson et al 2001;Bryant et al 2006;Akagami et al 2007;Eydal et al 2012;Gracia-Calvo et al 2014;Jung et al 2014;Lim et al 2015;Taulescu et al 2015;Pintore et al 2017). Owners seek veterinary assistance mostly due to unexpected and unexplained onset of neurological symptoms, such as anorexia, ataxia, urinary incontinence, blindness, decreased menace and tonal reflexes, tremors and aggressiveness (Rames et al 1995;Anderson et al 1998;Br€ ojer et al 2000;Johnson et al 2001;Bryant et al 2006;Akagami et al 2007;Vasconcelos et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First description of a fatal equine infection with Halicephalobus gingivalis in Portugal. Relevance for public health

Noiva

Ruivo

Carvalho

et al. 2019

Veterinary Medicine & Sci

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Halicephalobus gingivalis is a small saprophytic rhabditid nematode, represented only by females with a typical rhabditoid oesophagus and one egg in the uterus, capable of infecting vertebrates. This opportunistic parasite present in the soil, manure and decaying humus, is thought to penetrate through previous injuries to the mouth, eyes and skin of horses and migrate to various organs. The brain is one such organ, where the females lay their eggs, leading to malacia and causing a sudden onset of neurological signs, such as anorexia, ataxia, urinary incontinence, blindness, decreased menace and tonal reflexes, tremors and aggressiveness. The disease is invariably fatal whenever brain lesions are present, and the diagnosis usually achieved only post‐mortem. The present work aims to describe the first case of infection by H. gingivalis ever reported in Portugal. An 8‐year old warmblood horse presented with an 8‐day history of progressive blindness involving the left eye, initially with normal pupillary reflexes, advancing to bilateral blindness and increasing deterioration in clinical condition. After euthanasia, the animal was submitted for necropsy. Organ samples were collected and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for routine histopathology. A large mass was found in the left kidney corresponding to fibrous tissue heavily infiltrated with inflammatory cells and numerous nematodes. In the brain, multiple, bilateral and asymmetrical foci of malacia containing several rhabditoid nematodes, larvae and zygotes, and high numbers of inflammatory cells were found. The nematodes were identified as H. gingivalis . The clinical history, necropsy and histological findings presented constitute a typical case of H. gingivalis infection in a horse, never previously described in Portugal to the authors’ best knowledge. Humans can be infected by contact with contaminated manure, which makes this nematode a public health concern, especially for people living and/or working in close proximity to horses.

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“…It is also suggested that it can develop in plant material trapped in the gums and between the teeth. This would explain reports involving the maxilla and mandible [ 1 , 6 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Parasitism causing changes in bone tissue (granulomatous osteomyelitis) and joints is rare and has been described only by a few workers [ 1 , 6 , 7 ]. This study aims to describe the first report of a pathological fracture caused by H. gingivalis infection in an equine limb.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathological fracture induced by Halicephalobus gingivalis (Nematoda: Rhabditida) in a horse limb

Sousa,

Toma,

Lima

et al. 2024

Parasites Hosts Dis

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Halicephalobus gingivalis is a free-living nematode that occasionally causes infections in horses. We report a rare case of limb fracture of horse caused by infection with H. gingivalis. An 8-year-old mare was referred to the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Lavras with claudication grade 5 of the right hind limb, that had been started 3 months ago. The patient had aseptic arthritis in the tarsal joint and edema that extended to the quartile. The radiographic examination showed punctate osteolysis with exacerbation of bone trabeculation along the calcaneus, talus, proximal epiphysis of the third metatarsal and distal epiphysis of the tibia. Treatment for arthritis was initiated, and the animal showed a slight improvement in limb function. However, 21 days after hospitalization, due to a comminuted fracture of the tibia, it was euthanized. At necropsy, yellowish masses were found from the metatarsal to the tibia, and around the tarsal bones and joint. Similar masses were also found in the left kidney. Numerous nematodes compatible with H. gingivalis were identified. This is the first description of a pathological fracture caused by H. gingivalis infection in an equine limb.

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Maxillary osteomyelitis due to Halicephalobus gingivalis and fatal dissemination in a horse

Cited by 4 publications

References 14 publications

Isolation and molecular characterisation of Halicephalobus gingivalis in the brain of a horse in Piedmont, Italy

Isolation and molecular characterisation of Halicephalobus gingivalis in the brain of a horse in Piedmont, Italy

First description of a fatal equine infection with Halicephalobus gingivalis in Portugal. Relevance for public health

Pathological fracture induced by Halicephalobus gingivalis (Nematoda: Rhabditida) in a horse limb

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