Suppurative intracranial processes in 15 domestic ruminants

Abstract

In addition to listeriosis which is relatively common in ruminants, there are three other uncommon suppurative intracranial processes (SIP) identifiable in adult ungulates as brain abscess, basilar empyema and suppurative meningitis. The present paper reports the epidemiological, clinical, laboratorial, pathological and microbiological findings of 15 domestic ruminants with SIP. A total of 15 animals were selected (eight sheep, four cattle and three goats); with the definitive diagnoses of basilar empyema (n=3), brain abscess (n=1), listeriosis (n=5) and suppurative meningitis (n=6). Hematology revealed leukocytosis with inversion of the lymphocyte/ neutrophil ratio in 4 cases. In the majority of animals, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) presented light yellow coloration and cloudy aspect due to neutrophilic pleocytosis (15 -997 leukocytes/µL). Microbiological culture of CSF or central nervous system (CNS) fragments resulted on isolation of Trueperella (Arcanobacterium) pyogenes, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Stenotrophomonas sp. In a goat with thalamic abscess, microbiological assay was not performed, but Gram positive bacilli type bacteria were observed in histology. The diagnosis of these outbreaks was based on the association of epidemiological, clinical, pathological and bacteriological findings; reiterating that the infectious component remains an important cause of CNS disease in domestic ruminants and also shows the need for dissemination of information about the most effective preventive measures for the ranchers. teriológicos; reiterando que o componente infeccioso continua sendo uma causa importante de doença do SNC em ruminantes domésticos e também mostra a necessidade de disseminação da informação sobre as medidas preventivas mais eficazes para os criadores.TERMOS DE INDEXAÇÃO: Abscesso cerebral, animais de produção, empiema basilar, listeriose, meningite supurativa.

Polioencephalomalacia in ruminants from the semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

“…Xanthochromia (Case 5) is observed a few hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage, possibly caused by trauma, and may persist for two to four weeks (SCOTT, 2004); which is consistent with the history of falls and macroscopic findings of subdural hematomas. The presence of fibrin clots in the CSF is indicative of bacterial contamination (CÂMARA et al, 2014a), however, there was no growth of microorganisms after sample culturing, which may be explained by the increase in protein concentration (STOKOL et al, 2009). Hence, it is worth associating CSF analysis with epidemiological, clinical, and pathological findings, mainly as the results described here are similar to those reported in cases of toxic diseases such as botulism (CÂMARA et al, 2014b).…”

Cerebrospinal fluid analysis in 58 ruminants showing neurological disorders

“…Most animals showed the rhinopharyngeal form of the disease, while the rhinocerebral form was diagnosed in these three sheep, which presented neurological signs, macroscopic lesions infiltrating the cribiform plate, frontal and temporal bones, as well as cerebral cortex lesions, and histological findings of meningoencephalitis and malacia (Câmara et al 2011). However, only the sheep with the most severe lesions (Case 15) presented CSF alterations similar to cases of bacterial meningoencephalitis (Mayhew 2009, Stokol et al 2009, Câmara et al 2014a). Although the protein concentration was not determined in two cases, the presence of fibrin clots without CSF color or leukocyte changes in one sheep (Case 16) is strongly associated with high protein levels (Scott 2004).…”

“…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 (Lisbôa et al 1996, Della Libera et al 2004, Câmara et al 2009, 2014a, 2014b, 2014c, Queiroz et al 2018, Moreira et al 2018, and most reports involve experimental studies (Lisbôa et al 2009, Cunha et al 2011, Isernhagen et al 2011. Therefore, this study aimed to report the results of CSF analysis in 58 ruminants showing signs of neurological disorders.…”

Suppurative infectious diseases of the central nervous system in domestic ruminants

“…In North America, 41.5% of the neurological diseases of sheep are caused by bacteria (Rimoldi et al 2016), similar to the observed in the present study, where these were mainly composed by L. monocytogenes meningoencephalitis, followed by spinal cord abscesses. L. monocytogenes meningoencephalitis in sheep and goats is the main neurological disease caused by bacteria (Oevermann et al 2010, Allen et al 2013, Câmara et al 2014). According to Allen et al (2013), two thirds of the SIND diagnosed in goats from the USA were composed of L. monocytogenes meningoencephalitis, which is similar to the findings of the present study in which 71.42% of the goats were affected by this condition.…”

“…The main inflammatory neurological diseases caused by bacteria in ruminants are: listeriosis, suppurative leptomeningitis and meningoencephalitis, cerebral and spinal cord abscesses, basilar empyema and neurotuberculosis (Loretti et al 2003, Rissi et al 2010, Câmara et al 2014, Konradt et al 2016. CNS may be affected by infectious agents through four paths: from hematogenous or lymphatic dissemination deriving from distant sites (Morin 2004, Stöber 2005; direct penetrating lesions; through an adjacent suppurative lesion; or centripetal ascending infection through peripheral nerves 2006, Radostits et al 2007.…”