Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in 13 Neurologic Pot-Bellied Pigs.

Aude Castel,Silke Hecht,Vincent Doré,Mariana Vigeral

doi:10.3389/fvets.2020.00021

Abstract

This study reports the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in 13 pot-bellied pigs presented to our institution with neurological deficits. Nine pigs had abnormal MRI findings (7 with spinal cord localization and 2 with brain localization), with three of them having histopathological confirmation of the diagnoses. MRI diagnoses included a myopathy suspected to be secondary to Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, a round cell neoplasia involving the vertebral canal, myelomalacia, a cervical cyst like extradural lesion, pelvic fracture with secondary cauda equina involvement, two cases of fibrocartilaginous embolism or acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion, multifocal brain infarcts, and a cystic fourth ventricle dilation resulting in obstructive hydrocephalus and syringomyelia. Four pigs had normal MRI studies, with one of them ultimately diagnosed with idiopathic vestibular disease. This retrospective study illustrates the wide variety of diagnoses achieved with MRI of the head or vertebral column in pigs, several of them having never been described in this species. Some of the conditions identified had a good outcome. This justifies using MRI as an ante-mortem diagnostic tool as it can provide relevant information about the prognosis which can significantly influence treatment recommendations. Our findings suggest that MRI should be considered as a valuable imaging modality, when feasible, in pigs with neurological deficits.

Highlights

Infectious diseases such as bacterial meningitis and myelitis, porcine teschoviruses, Porcine circovirus type 2, Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, pseudorabies, metabolic and toxic causes such as hypoglycemia, salt and selenium toxicity or edema disease, and congenital abnormalities are the most common causes of neurological deficits in pigs [1]
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis was performed in three pigs, and histopathological evaluation was performed in three animals
This study describes Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) features of different etiologies causing neurological deficits in pigs

Summary

Introduction

Infectious diseases such as bacterial meningitis and myelitis, porcine teschoviruses, Porcine circovirus type 2, Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, pseudorabies, metabolic and toxic causes such as hypoglycemia, salt and selenium toxicity or edema disease, and congenital abnormalities are the most common causes of neurological deficits in pigs [1]. These diagnoses are generally achieved post-mortem because many pigs presented with acute neurologic conditions are culled as they are typically commercial pigs and ante-mortem diagnostics are usually not performed. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the clinical presentation, MRI features, and outcome of neurologic conditions identified in a group of potbellied pigs, some with confirmed histolopathologic diagnosis

Methods

Results

Conclusion