Fatal parasitic meningoencephalomyelitis caused by Halicephalobus deletrix : a case report and review of the literature

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2010 Apr;134(4):625-9. doi: 10.5858/134.4.625.

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Brain / parasitology
  • Brain / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Encephalomyelitis / diagnosis
  • Encephalomyelitis / parasitology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Meningoencephalitis / diagnosis
  • Meningoencephalitis / parasitology*
  • Rhabditida / isolation & purification
  • Rhabditida / pathogenicity
  • Rhabditida Infections / diagnosis
  • Rhabditida Infections / parasitology*