Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
The distribution pattern of Halicephalobus gingivalis in a horse is suggestive of a haematogenous spread of the nematode.
- Journal:
- Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
- Year:
- 2014
- Authors:
- Henneke, Christina et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A horse was diagnosed with an infection caused by a type of roundworm called Halicephalobus gingivalis before it died, which is unusual since most cases are only found during an autopsy. The infection was found in the horse's brain and other organs, and there was a lot of inflammation near blood vessels. This pattern of where the worms were located suggests that they spread through the bloodstream. Understanding how this infection spreads is important, especially since many cases have been fatal.
Abstract
The majority of Halicephalobus gingivalis-infections in horses have been fatal and are usually not diagnosed before necropsy. Therefore, knowledge about the nematode and the pathogenesis of infection in horses is limited. This has resulted in an on-going discussion about the port of entry and subsequent dissemination of H. gingivalis within the host. The present case of H. gingivalis-infection in a horse was diagnosed ante mortem. Post mortem findings, the distribution pattern of H. gingivalis nematodes in the brain, a high prevalence of inflammation in close relation to blood vessels, and the presence of the nematode in multiple organs with a disseminated pattern of distribution strongly suggested a haematogenous spread of the nematode in the horse.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25233889/