Micronema deletrix Infection in the Central Nervous System of a Horse

Abstract

Cerebrospinal nematodiasis caused by Micronema deletrix occurred in an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. Its clinical signs were characterized by paralysis and suggestive of a viral encephalitis. The nematode was observed only in the central nervous system in this case. A remarkable tissue response to the parasite was a granulomatous reaction with giant cells. The present case was diagnosed microscopically as meningoencephalomyelitis caused by M. deletrix. This report is believed to be the first record on cerebrospinal nematodiasis of the horse caused by M. deletrix infection in Japan.