Necrotizing Panencephalitis in Puppies Infected with La Crosse Virus

Abstract

Arboviral encephalitis in domestic animals in the United States is rare with the exception of equine encephalomyelitis in horses. 8 This report describes 2 cases in which La Crosse virus (LACV) was isolated from canine littermates with acute clinical encephalitis or sudden death. Both cases occurred in the southern region of the state of Georgia and were submitted as cadavers for necropsy to the Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory (VDIL) in Tifton, Georgia. On May 9, 1988, 4 2-week-old mixed-breed littermate puppies exhibited acute signs of central nervous system disease and were taken to a veterinarian. Three of the puppies had repeated seizures during the clinical examination. Because the clinical signs were compatible with a diagnosis of canine distemper virus encephalitis, the veterinarian issued a poor prognosis; the 3 puppies were euthanized and submitted to the VDIL for necropsy. The fourth puppy was mildly affected and was sent home without follow-up. On May 28, 1991, illness and deaths occurred in a litter of 7 8-day-old Brittany spaniel puppies. Two puppies were found dead and were taken to a veterinarian, who submitted the cadavers to the VDIL for necropsy. A third puppy was moribund and experienced breathing difficulty and died within the following hour. The veterinarian examined the 4 remaining puppies later that day and found them to be healthy. The same veterinarian had examined the entire litter 5 days previously. At that time, the animals appeared healthy, and tail docking was performed. A necropsy was performed on each of the 3 mixed-breed and 2 Brittany spaniel puppies submitted to the VDIL. Macroscopically, the brain of each puppy was severely and diffusely malacic. Other tissues appeared normal. Representative sections of lung, heart, liver, kidney, urinary bladder,

Mosquito-borne viruses in Europe

“…However, several cases of encephalitis of young dogs caused by LaCrosse virus were described in the USA (Black et al 1994;Tatum et al 1999); experimental infection of puppies led to fatal CNS disease (Godsey et al 1988).…”

Canine LaCrosse Viral Meningoencephalomyelitis with Possible Public Health Implications

“…10,36,39,44 LaCrosse virus (LACV) encephalitis, a rare disease in both human and veterinary medicine, is also an important arboviral disease in the United States. 6,10,44 Here, we describe an LACV central nervous system infection in a dog, which may also be affecting the children associated with this animal.…”

“…8 In a previous study, osteophytes were found in the lumbar vertebrae of adult boars, but they did not cause vertebral canal stenosis. 3 Vertebral fractures have been associated with lactation osteoporosis, 6 electrocution, 1 and suppurative spondylitis. 2 Lumbar vertebral abscesses with or without vertebral fracture is the most frequent cause of paresis/paralysis diagnosed in pigs submitted to this laboratory.…”

Schmallenberg Virus Infection in Dogs, France, 2012

“…Two serologic studies from the United States ( 7 ) and Mexico ( 8 ) found antibodies against La Crosse virus, South River virus, and Jamestown Canyon virus in dogs. Two other reports described cases in which La Crosse virus was detected in canine littermates who had clinical encephalitis ( 9 ) or neurologic disorders ( 10 ).…”