Meningoencephalitis In Dogs Research Articles

Development of a reliable clinical assessment tool for meningoencephalitis in dogs: The neurodisability scale

Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) comprises a group of debilitating inflammatory diseases affecting the central nervous system of dogs. Currently, no validated clinical scale is available for the objective assessment of MUO severity. Design a neurodisability scale (NDS) to grade clinical severity and determine its reliability and whether or not the score at presentation correlates with outcome. One hundred dogs with MUO were included for retrospective review and 31 dogs were subsequently enrolled for prospective evaluation. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for 100 dogs diagnosed with MUO to identify the most frequent neurological examination findings. The NDS was designed based on these results and evaluated for prospective and retrospective use in a new population of MUO patients (n = 31) by different groups of independent blinded assessors, including calculation of interobserver agreement and association with outcome. The most common clinical signs in MUO patients were used to inform categories for scoring in the NDS: seizure activity, ambulatory status, posture and cerebral, cerebellar, brainstem, and visual functions. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for prospective use of the NDS was 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68-0.91) indicating good agreement, and moderate agreement was found between prospective and retrospective assessors (ICC, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.56-0.83). No association was found between NDS score and long-term outcome. The NDS is a novel clinical measure for objective assessment of neurological dysfunction and showed good reliability when used prospectively in MUO patients but, in this small population, no association with outcome could be identified.

Convergence of human and veterinary medicine: leveraging canine naturally occurring neurological disorders to develop regenerative treatments.

Convergence of human and veterinary medicine: leveraging canine naturally occurring neurological disorders to develop regenerative treatments.

Talaromyces spp. infections in dogs from the Southern United States.

Talaromyces spp. are soil-dwelling fungi sporadically reported to cause disease in humans and dogs. This study summarized the clinical presentations, histologic findings, and Talaromyces sp. involved in 5 dogs diagnosed through the panfungal polymerase chain reaction service (PCR) at Texas A&M University, with a review of previously reported cases. Of the 5 cases, 3 were Labrador Retrievers, 2 were male, and 3 were female. Three of 5 involved the musculoskeletal or lymphatic systems, and 2 of 5 dogs presented with meningoencephalitis. Talaromyces helicus, Talaromyces aurantiacus, and Talaromyces boninensis were identified based on panfungal PCR, showing 99% to 100% sequence matches in combination with morphologic features. Three of 5 dogs had static disease at the time of publication, 1 was euthanized, and 1 was lost to follow-up. This study describes Talaromyces spp. as a cause of meningoencephalitis in dogs, identifies 2 novel Talaromyces spp. involved in infections, and adds to the existing knowledge of clinical presentations and outcomes.

Comparative evaluation of different treatment schemes for aseptic meningoencephalitis in dogs of dwarf breeds

The article presents the results of treatment of aseptic meningoencephalitis in dogs of dwarf breeds. Diagnostics included a thorough neurological examination: assessment of mental status, ability to perform diagnostic tests, proprioceptive and postural reaction, the consistency and symmetry of cranial reflexes, including of pupil response to light and response to the threat, the presence of involuntary movements and forced poses, the intensity of the muscle tone and tendon reflexes. If an animal is suspected of having a brain lesion, other possible causes of encephalopathy were excluded. For this purpose, a General blood test was performed (to detect signs of inflammation, anemia); a detailed biochemical blood test (excluding renal and hepatic encephalopathy, indirect signs of the presence of a portosystemic shunt); if a portosystemic shunt was suspected, a blood test for bile acids was performed; when excluding all other causes of damage to the central nervous system. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was performed with contrast with the use of the drug OmniScan. During the magnetic resonance imaging, multiple foci were detected in all parts of the brain, including in the thalamus and trunk; including in some animals, foci that have a tendency to decay and form a necrotic cavity. It was established that before the start of treatment, animals had a wobbly gait, convulsive signs, a comatose state in some dogs, and weak visual reflexes. As a result of studies of morphological and biochemical parameters of blood in dogs, it was found that all the data obtained were within the reference values and did not have significant significance in the diagnosis of aseptic meningoencephalitis. Against the background of etiotropic and symptomatic therapy, positive dynamics was observed in patients with aseptic meningoencephalitis.

Cerebral and Renal Phaeohyphomycosis in a Dog Infected With Bipolaris Species

Mycotic meningoencephalitis in dogs may manifest as a primary disease of the central nervous system or as a part of disseminated infection. Fungi belonging to the genus Bipolaris are saprophytic plant pathogens and can cause disease in humans. The authors report a case of Bipolaris infection in a dog with granulomatous meningoencephalitis, nephritis, and vasculitis. The clinical and histological features resembled those of the more common aspergillosis, thus warranting confirmation by molecular methods. Polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis identified Bipolaris from the brain lesion, indicating its involvement in the disease. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of meningoencephalitis caused by this fungus in a domestic animal.