Abstract
The main hypothesis for the aetiology of meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) in dogs is an autoimmune or genetic cause that is associated with a triggering event (environmental factors/infectious agents). The aim of this ambispective cohort study was to test for Leishmania infantum infection in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of dogs with MUO in an endemic area of canine leishmaniosis. Dogs with MUO were selected amongst all dogs undergoing blood anti-L. infantum antibody testing (control group). The blood plasma or serum samples from all dogs were analysed for anti- L. infantum antibodies by a quantitative indirect fluorescent assay (IFAT). In dogs with MUO, CSF samples were obtained for analysed by PCR detection of L. infantum DNA. Forty-four percent and 22% of the dogs in the MUO group featured magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and CSF cytology respectively, consistent with L. infantum infection. IFAT, PCR, and histological findings were negative for L. infantum. A significant difference in L. infantum infection prevalence was found between the control and MUO group (p = 0.0022). While it seems unlikely that L. infantum plays a role in the aetiology of MUO, in endemic areas, this pathogen should be included in the differential diagnosis of this neurological disorder.
Highlights
Central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory diseases are perhaps the most frequent neurological disorders in dogs
The dogs under a diagnostic protocol for meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) were selected according to the following inclusion criteria (MUO group): (1) A diagnosis of MUO that is based on clinical presentation, alterations detected in an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
2312 dogs were subjected to the detection of anti-L. infantum antibody by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT)
Summary
Central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory diseases are perhaps the most frequent neurological disorders in dogs. Two broad groups have been defined: inflammatory diseases of infectious origin, in which an infectious agent is isolated as the disease cause, and those of a non-infectious aetiology [1]. Within the group of inflammatory non-infectious CNS diseases, the past few years have witnessed cases of necrotizing leukoencephalitis, granulomatous meningoencephalitis, and necrotizing meningoencephalitis, all with a diagnosis that is based on histopathological findings [2]. Analysis findings that are compatible with a non-infectious inflammatory CNS disease [3]. The main hypothesis is an autoimmune or genetic cause [7,8] that is associated with a triggering factor that leads to the presentation of disease signs in a specific manner and at a given time point [9,10].
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