Clinical and pathological findings in a goat with cerebral gliomatosis

Abstract

This report describes a buck with cerebral gliomatosis. The animal was severely apathetic to somnolent. Neurological examination revealed generalised ataxia and hypermetria of the fore limbs. There was bilateral mydriasis and severely decreased menace and pupillary light reflexes. Sensitivity to pricking with a needle was markedly reduced over the entire body. There was a delayed response to adduction, abduction and crossing of the limbs and rocking of the animal. Examination of cerebrospinal fluid indicated mild mixed-cell inflammation. Based on all of the findings, an abscess or tumour of the central nervous system with localisation in the cerebrum was suspected. Because of the grave prognosis, the goat was euthanased and a post mortem examination performed. No macroscopic abnormalities were seen in any of the organs including the brain. Histologically, there was extensive diffuse glial cell hyperplasia in the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres and in the brain stem.