Ruminants may be affected by a wide variety of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis forms the basis for ante mortem diagnostic evaluation of ruminants with clinical signs involving the CNS. Despite its importance as a tool to aid diagnosis, data regarding CSF examinations in spontaneous cases of CNS diseases in ruminants from Brazil are limited, and most reports involve experimental studies. Therefore, this study aimed to report the results of CSF analysis in 58 ruminants showing signs of neurological disorders. CSF samples for analysis were obtained from 32 cattle, 20 sheep, and 6 goats by cerebello-medullary cistern (n=54) or lumbosacral space (n=4) puncture. These ruminants showed neurological signs related to viral (n=13), mycotic (n=3), or bacterial (n=15) infections, and toxic (n=21), traumatic (n=4), or congenital disorders (n=2). CSF analysis from ruminants with viral infections presented lymphocytic pleocytosis, even though CSF showed no changes in several cases of rabies. Neutrophilic pleocytosis, cloudiness, presence of fibrin clots, and abnormal coloration were evident in the CSF of most cases of CNS bacterial infection, such as meningoencephalitis, meningitis, abscesses, myelitis, and a case of conidiobolomycosis. On the other hand, CSF was unchanged in most cases of toxic disorders, as botulism and hepatic encephalopathy. Elevated CSF density was observed in 60% of ruminants diagnosed with polioencephalomalacia. Our findings show that evaluation of CSF is a valuable diagnostic tool when used in association with epidemiological, clinical and pathological findings for diagnosis of CNS diseases in ruminants.
BackgroundParalytic form of rabies is frequent in cattle in Latin America, but it is uncommon in goats. There are few clinical reports on furious rabies affecting goats, and the sporadic cases of rabid goats from surveillance programs worldwide lack clinical data. Furthermore, few studies reported the cerebrospinal fluid findings in rabid livestock.Case presentationOn a farm in Midwestern Brazil, six of 47 Saanen goats died within one week. No vaccination protocols were implemented on the farm and the owner stated bat bites history on the livestock. Although rabies is endemic in Brazil, livestock vaccination is not mandatory. One 1-year-old buck was evaluated and showed non-specific clinical signs evolving within 12-h to nervous signs. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed mononuclear pleocytosis, hyperproteinemia and high glucose levels. At necropsy, no gross lesions were present. Microscopically, discrete to moderate perivascular lymphoplasmacytic cuffing in gray and white matter, neuronal necrosis, neuronophagia, and mononuclear ganglioneuritis was observed in the brainstem and cervical spinal cord. Immunohistochemistry revealed strong anti-rabies virus immunostaining. Fresh central nervous system samples were positive for rabies in direct fluorescent antibody test (dFAT) and mouse intracerebral inoculation test (MIT). Exposed livestock recommendations included immediate vaccination, a strict isolation period of 90 days, and booster vaccinations during the third and eighth weeks.ConclusionIHC revealed the widespread distribution of rabies virus antigen in the goat’s CNS, contrasting the discrete pathological changes. In this goat, definitive diagnosis of paralytic rabies was obtained through the association of epidemiological, clinical, laboratorial, pathological findings (histology and IHC) and gold standard confirmatory tests (dFAT and MIT).
Background: Schiff-Sherrington syndrome is characterized by extensor hypertonicity of the forelimbs and flaccid hindlimbs as a result from the interruption of the ascending inhibitory effect on motor neurons of forelimbs. The main cause is trauma to the spinal cord in thoracolumbar segment and is considered a common condition in companion animals, but rarely reported in large animals. The present study aimed to report the clinical-pathological and laboratorial findings of a horse with Schiff-Sherington syndrome.Case: A 9-year-old mare weighing 330 kg was referred for clinical evaluation after a 36 h evolution of an acute onset of inability to stand. During physical examination the horse was on lateral recumbency and presented normal mental status, spasticity of the forelimbs, flaccid paralysis of the hind limbs, and superficial sensitivity decreased from the 13th thoracic vertebra, reaching the perianal region and hindlimbs. Hematological and biochemical abnormalities included mild neu- trophilic leukocytosis, hypoalbuminemia and increased activity of aspartate aminotransferase. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed yellowish coloration (xanthochromia), turbidity (+1), increased density, hypoproteinemia and erythro- phagocytosis. Microbiological culture of CSF was negative. Necropsy revealed muscle hematomas and complete fracture of the 10th and 11th thoracic vertebrae with spinal cord compression. Cross section of the thoracic spinal cord presented severe hemorrhage and cavitations areas in the gray matter. Microscopically, vacuolization of the white matter (status spongiosus) with numerous axonal spheroids was present. In the gray matter, the presence of moderate amount of neurons with eosinophilic cytoplasm, nucleus and retracted picnotic (necrosis), discrete perineuronal edema, and moderate foci of hemorrhage was observed.Discussion: The definitive diagnosis of thoracic vertebral fracture with spinal cord compression and myelomalacia was conducted by the association of epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and pathological findings. Schiff-Sherington syndrome can occur due to serious injuries in the thoracolumbar region with spinal cord compression, resulting in lower motor neuron paralysis in the hind limbs (flaccid paralysis) and upper motor neuron paralysis in the forelimbs (spasticity). In horses, thethoracic segment is the most affected in cases of vertebral fractures. CSF analysis presented as a crucial tool for diagnosis, because it allowed the observation of xanthochromia and erythrophagocytosis. And it also allowed the exclusion of other causes of acute spinal cord impairment, such as rabies, viral myeloencephalitis, protozoal mieloencefalopathy and trypanosomiasis by Trypanosoma evansi. CSF analysis is an important ancillary method, associated with the epidemiological and clinical findings, in the diagnosis of central nervous system diseases in horses. In large animals with suspected fracture and spinal cord compression, CSF analysis can help in the definitive diagnosis, especially when performing radiographic examination is impossible.
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