Fatal parasitic meningoencephalomyelitis caused by Halicephalobus deletrix : a case report and review of the literature
- PMID: 20367314
- DOI: 10.5858/134.4.625
Fatal parasitic meningoencephalomyelitis caused by Halicephalobus deletrix : a case report and review of the literature
Abstract
Infection with the saprophagous nematode Halicephalobus species is uncommon but has been reported in horses worldwide. Only 3 human cases have been previously described, all of which have been fatal. We report a fourth fatal case, which occurred in a 39-year-old woman who presented with meningeal signs, altered mental status, and a prodromal pruritic rash. Diagnostic evaluation included an open brain biopsy, which was diagnosed as granulomatous vasculitis. The patient subsequently died after a course of steroids and cyclophosphamide. At autopsy, a robust perivascular mixed inflammatory infiltration of the brain parenchyma, meninges, and ventricular system was present with larval forms and mature nematodes morphologically consistent with Halicephalobus deletrix . Although extremely rare, this organism needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of human helminthic infection of the central nervous system.
Similar articles
-
Parasitic and zoonotic meningoencephalitis in humans and equids: Current knowledge and the role of Halicephalobus gingivalis.Parasite Epidemiol Control. 2017 Dec 29;3(1):36-42. doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2017.12.002. eCollection 2018 Feb. Parasite Epidemiol Control. 2017. PMID: 29774297 Free PMC article. Review.
-
First case of fatal equine meningoencephalitis caused by Halicephalobus gingivalis in Mexico.Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2020 Apr;20:100399. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100399. Epub 2020 Mar 18. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2020. PMID: 32448540
-
First human case of fatal Halicephalobus gingivalis meningoencephalitis in Australia.J Clin Microbiol. 2015 May;53(5):1768-74. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00032-15. Epub 2015 Feb 18. J Clin Microbiol. 2015. PMID: 25694532 Free PMC article.
-
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.12-0730. Epub 2013 Mar 18. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013. PMID: 23509120 Free PMC article.
-
[Meningoencephalomyelitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis with lung involvement].An Esp Pediatr. 1998 Sep;49(3):308-10. An Esp Pediatr. 1998. PMID: 9803560 Review. Spanish. No abstract available.
Cited by
-
Pathological fracture induced by Halicephalobus gingivalis (Nematoda: Rhabditida) in a horse limb.Parasites Hosts Dis. 2024 Feb;62(1):131-138. doi: 10.3347/PHD.23066. Epub 2024 Feb 23. Parasites Hosts Dis. 2024. PMID: 38443776 Free PMC article.
-
Disseminated Halicephalobus gingivalis infection in a horse.J Vet Diagn Invest. 2023 Mar;35(2):173-177. doi: 10.1177/10406387221141698. Epub 2022 Dec 8. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2023. PMID: 36482716 Free PMC article.
-
First description of a fatal equine infection with Halicephalobus gingivalis in Portugal. Relevance for public health.Vet Med Sci. 2019 May;5(2):222-229. doi: 10.1002/vms3.142. Epub 2019 Jan 22. Vet Med Sci. 2019. PMID: 30672155 Free PMC article.
-
Parasitic and zoonotic meningoencephalitis in humans and equids: Current knowledge and the role of Halicephalobus gingivalis.Parasite Epidemiol Control. 2017 Dec 29;3(1):36-42. doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2017.12.002. eCollection 2018 Feb. Parasite Epidemiol Control. 2017. PMID: 29774297 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Fatal Human Meningoencephalitis due to Halicephalobus Nematodes, Germany.Open Forum Infect Dis. 2015 May 22;2(2):ofv061. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofv061. eCollection 2015 Apr. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2015. PMID: 26125032 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources