Halicephalobus gingivalis (H.deletrix) in the brain of a horse

A 10-year-old Mangalarga gelding with rhabditiform nematode infection in the brain is described. Clinical signs were limited to circling and right side paralysis. Histological examination of the brain revealed marked gliosis and discreet edema. The perivascular mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate was composed of few layers of lymphocytes, plasmocytes and macrophages and rare eosinophils. The presence of rhabditiform nematodes was associated with the infiltrate. Areas of malacia associated with the parasites and parasite tracks with axonal spheroids were also seen close to the vessels and to the etiological agent and were more evident in the white matter. In the meninges there was moderate inflammatory infiltrate associated with perivascular parasites. The identification of the nematode was based on the histological examination of the cerebral fragments.