Neurological Disorders In Dogs Research Articles

Retrospective study of acupuncture treatment for canine thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation

Thoracolumbar interverbal disk herniation (TL-IVDH) is a common neurological disorder in dogs, which often affects the life quality of patients and their caregivers. Acupuncture is increasingly accepted by veterinarians and animal owners, and has been used in the treatment of neurologic disorders. This study aims to evaluate the effects of acupuncture treatment for canine TL-IVDH. Clinical cases from 2016 to 2021 were collected. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 94 TL-IVDH cases that received acupuncture treatment were selected. Clinical classification and efficacy criteria were formulated based on the Frankel Score. For each case, clinical presentation, improvement, recovery and recurrence were recorded. Male dogs with TL-IVDH accounted for 64% of all cases. The average age was 7.49 years old, the predominant breed was poodle, and the incidence site was concentrated from T11 to L1. The overall recovery rate after receiving acupuncture treatment was 79.78%, which was comparable when considering only cases with grade 2, 3, or 4 spinal cord lesions (83.33% ~ 85.19%). In conclusion, canine with grade 2, 3, and 4 spinal cord lesions due to TL-IVDH receiving acupuncture had a high recovery rate, suggesting acupuncture could be a viable treatment options for canine with TL-IVDH.

Canine bone marrow peri-adipocyte cells could therapeutically benefit acute spinal cord injury through migration and secretion of hepatocyte growth factor to inflammatory milieu.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a common neurological disorder in dogs. A secondary injury that occurs in the acute phase causes expansion of inflammation, resulting in lesion extension and further loss of function. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have trophic effects and the ability to migrate toward injured tissues; therefore, MSC-based therapy is considered promising for the treatment of canine SCI. We recently reported that bone marrow peri-adipocyte cells (BM-PACs) can be obtained from canine bone marrow and have stem cell potential superior to that of conventional bone marrow MSCs (BMMSCs). However, their therapeutic potential for SCI have been still unknow. Here, we first evaluated the ability of BM-PACs to secrete hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and their migration ability toward inflammatory milieu in vitro. BM-PACs can secrete HGF in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-1β, and exhibit migration ability toward these cytokines. Next, BM-PACs were intravenously administered into nude mice with acute SCI to analyze the homing ability and therapeutic effects of HGF secreted by BM-PACs. BM-PACs homed to the injured spinal cord, where the HGF expression level increased 7 days after administration. Intravenous administration of BM-PACs induced functional recovery and pathological improvement, indicated by less demyelinating area, more preserved axons, and less glial scar formation compared with the mice only received vehicle. These findings suggest that the intravenous administration of BM-PACs can be a novel therapeutic intervention for acute canine SCI.

Risk factors of canine neosporosis in Iran: a meta-analysis study

Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular protozoan that causes neurological disorders in dogs. This meta-analysis based review aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with N. caninum infection in Iran.The relevant articles, published up to January 2021, have been searched from five English databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science and five Persian databases namely, Element, Civilica, Magiran, Irandoc, and Scientific Information Database (SID). The odds ratio (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI)) were measured using random-effects model. A total of 549 articles were identified by the databases without setting any time limit, of which 28 papers met the evaluation criteria for this study. Age, gender, breed, presence of an intermediate host, habitat, and diet were the risk factors reported in Iranian studies. Dogs equal or below 1 year of age had higher infection compared to that of more than 2 years of age and the difference was statistically significant. In relation to types of habitats, household dogs had lower infection in comparison to stray and farm dogs and the difference was statistically significant. Dogs are important source of N. caninum infection. Therefore, the systematic analysis of the risk factors associated with N. caninum may help in prevention and control of neosporosis among the dog population.

Reactive seizures in 40 dogs: A clinical study

Seizures are the most common neurological disorders in dogs. Based on the etiology the epileptic dogs were classified as idiopathic epilepsy, reactive seizures and structural epilepsy. In this study 40/179 dogs were diagnosed with reactive seizures. They were grouped in to different age and sex. The different etiologies of reactive seizures in this study were hepatic encephalopathy, cardiomyopathy, uremic encephalopathy, infectious, hypothyroidism, hypocalcemia, verminous, hypoglycaemia, tetanus and anemia. This categorisation will guide the clinician to treat for the primary cause and plan the antiepileptic treatment accordingly.

ФАКТОРЫ, ОПРЕДЕЛЯЮЩИЕ СТЕПЕНЬ НЕВРОЛОГИЧЕСКОГО ДЕФИЦИТА ПРИ КОМПРЕССИОННОМ И НЕКОМПРЕССИОННОМ ПОРАЖЕНИИ УСОБАКСКАРДИОПАТОЛОГИЯМИ

The number of neurological patients in veterinary prac-tice is constantly growing. This is due to increasing number of injuries in animals (fractures, spondylolisthesis), mani-festations of such pathologies as osteochondrosis, tumors of the spinal cord and spinal column (the life expectancy of pets in large cities increases due to, among other things, the use of ready-made diets in their feeding), and also by close inbreeding which increases the proportion of genetic anomalies of the spinal column. Concomitant cardiac dis-eases in neurologically impaired dogs are common in an-esthetic practice of surgical treatment of spinal cord com-pression. Neurological pathology is referred to as urgent, i.e. associated with the need for early diagnosis and treat-ment. In veterinary medicine, as opposed to humane medi-cine, it is often not possible to determine the level / locali-zation of the lesion on the basis of neurological symptoms and syndromes. Accurate and correct diagnosis using a sequential algorithm for examining a cardiologic animal with neurological disorders, using additional diagnostic methods such as myelography, MRI, morphological exami-nation, etc. allow conducting successful surgical treatment and avoiding complications from the cardiovascular system after anesthesia. In the immediate postoperative period, the adaptive mechanisms in the animal body may be insuf-ficient and take on a decompensation character which may cause complications from the cardiovascular system and the death of the patient. The research goal was to statisti-cally analyze the causes of neurological disorders in dogs with concomitant heart diseases, identify the most frequent neurological disorders, and determine the breed and age predisposition of dogs to these diseases under planned anesthesia.

Idiopathic epilepsy in dogs: insights into factors that may predict upcoming seizure activity

Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) is the most common chronic neurological disorder in dogs. Most dogs with IE first experience seizures when they are under six years old, and they usually require...

Fisioterapia pós operatória em cão com hérnia cervical e suspeita de meningoencefalite granulomatosa associada

Intervertebral disc disease is one of the main neurological disorders in dogs. The clinical signs and prognosis may vary according to the location of the lesion, type of herniation, time of evolution, delay in performing the surgical intervention and the patient's behavior. Usually, lesions in the cervical region usually cause a severe clinical picture, such as hyperalgesia refractory to drug treatment until tetraparesis. In these cases, surgical intervention is the therapeutic modality of choice. The gold standard exams for the diagnosis of DDIV are magnetic resonance and myelotomography. Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the brain and / or spinal cord. It can cause focal or multifocal injuries and can even reach the brain stem. Physiotherapy plays an important role both in the recovery of patients undergoing cervical surgery as it contributes to the control of local edema, accelerates tissue healing, restores muscle strength and stimulates neuromuscular function, and in the patient with a Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis condition, as it helps in postural control, balance and gait.

Molecular Detection of Neospora caninum from Naturally Infected Dogs in Van Province, East Turkey

Neospora caninum is a coccidian parasite causing abortion in cattle and neurological problems in horses. Dogs are definitive hosts of N. caninum. Polymerase chain reaction is the most specific method used for the detection of N. caninum oocytes. In the present study, a total of 100 fecal samples were collected from naturally infected dogs. Of the 100 samples analyzed, 11 of them were detected with Hammondia/Neospora-like oocytes. Genomic DNA was isolated using a commercially available DNA extraction kit. The Nc5 gene specific to N. caninum was amplified by PCR and two of the eleven samples with Hammondia/Neospora-like oocytes formed ~337 bp repeatable band. In conclusion, N. caninum, which has been shown to cause neurological disorders in dogs and to abortion in cattle, was detected in naturally infected dogs in Van Province in Polymerase chain reaction.

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum Infection in Dog Population Worldwide: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular apicomplexan protozoan that causes neurological disorders in dogs. This systematic review and meta-analysis targeted at evaluating the worldwide seroprevalence rate of N. caninum in dogs. Five electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, until December 2018 were thoroughly searched for relevant English language articles. Papers were selected based on inclusion criteria. Data were analyzed in StatsDirect statistical software (version 2.7.9). The searching process yielded a total number of 156 papers. The total prevalence (95% confidence intervals) of N. caninum infection in dog population worldwide was measured as 17.14% in data analyses (15.25-19.10). In addition, a significant association was also detected between neosporosis infection in dogs and continent, country, year, WHO regions, sample size and diagnostic method (P < 0.001). Dogs are a matter of concern to public health officials as a source of N. caninum infection. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to provide comprehensive data and systematically analyze the prevalence of N. caninum infection in dogs. Accordingly, it is recommended that researchers carry out further studies to prevent and control neosporosis among dog population worldwide.

Diagnosis and treatment of internal hydrocephalus in dogs in relation to our own observations

Hydrocephalus is a congenital or acquired neurological disorder in dogs, associated with the excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The factors contributing to hydrocephalus development are diverse and not always possible to determine. The aim of this article was to present two cases of the diagnosis and treatment of internal hydrocephalus in dogs. The observations included animals with neurological disorders of unknown origin. Internal hydrocephalus was diagnosed based on the results of magnetic resonance imaging, and the treatment of both patients comprised ventricular brain drainage. The surgical treatment was fully effective for one dog. For the other dog, a short-term improvement was followed by deterioration in condition due to occlusion of the ventriculoperitoneal drain, and the owners decided to euthanize the animal. The analysis of our cases led to the conclusion that congenital hydrocephalus is a disorder that challenges veterinarians in terms of diagnosis and therapy, due to limited access to advanced imaging techniques such as MRI or CT, and from the complicated nature of the surgical treatment. However, it should be noted that if the disorder is correctly diagnosed and ventricular brain drainage is adequate, the chances for successful functioning are significant.

ABCB1 c.-6-180T > G polymorphism and clinical risk factors in a multi-breed cohort of dogs with refractory idiopathic epilepsy

Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder in dogs. Approximately 20–30% of dogs do not achieve satisfactory seizure control with two or more anti-epileptic drugs at appropriate dosages. This condition, defined as refractory epilepsy, is a multifactorial condition involving both acquired and genetic factors. The P glycoprotein might play and important role in the pathophysiological mechanism and it is encoded by the ABCB1 gene. An association between a single nucleotide variation of the ABCB1 gene (c.-6-180T>G) and phenobarbital resistance has previously been reported in a Border collie population with idiopathic epilepsy. To date, the presence and relevance of this polymorphism has not been assessed in other breeds. A multicentre retrospective, case-control study was conducted to investigate associations between ABCB1 c.-6-180T>G, clinical variables, and refractoriness in a multi-breed population of dogs with refractory idiopathic epilepsy. A secondary aim was to evaluate the possible involvement of the ABCB1 c.-6-180T>G single nucleotide variation this population.Fifty-two refractory and 50 responsive dogs with idiopathic epilepsy were enrolled. Of these, 45 refractory and 50 responsive (control) dogs were genotyped. The G allele was found in several breeds, but there was no evidence of association with refractoriness (P=0.69). The uncertain role of the c.-6-180T>G variation was further suggested by an association between the T/T genotype with both refractoriness and responsiveness in different breeds. Furthermore, high seizure density (cluster seizure) was the main clinical risk factor for refractory idiopathic epilepsy (P=0.003).

Cannabidiol as a potential anti-epileptic dietary supplement in dogs with suspected epilepsy: three case reports

Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder in dogs and the almost lifelong administration of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) is recognized as the most successful treatment in veterinary medicine. Current pharmacological therapies for epilepsy have shown undesirable side effects. The dietary use of cannabidiol (CBD) in humans has shown therapeutic potential for the treatment of epileptic seizures. We administered CBD for 8 weeks to three dogs with epileptic seizures; decrease in the seizure interval was observed in two dogs, while one dog showed no improvement. Regarding the owners’ impressions, one reported considerable symptom improvement, one that the symptoms improved, and one that the symptoms remained unchanged.

Investigating owner use of dietary supplements in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy

Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder in dogs. Some diets have been shown to have a positive impact upon the seizure activity in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE), while other diets and dietary supplements (DS), although marketed as providing health benefits, lack conclusive scientific evidence on their actual beneficial effects.A web-based owner questionnaire was designed to assess how and why owners of dogs with IE use different dietary regimes and DS. The study cohort, with 297 valid responses, consisted mainly of pure-breed (82.5%) male neutered (52.9%) dogs. Over two-thirds of owners (67.7%) changed their dog's diet after their dog received a diagnosis of IE. Nearly half of the owners (45.8%) reported giving DS, the most common being coconut oil or derived medium-chain triglyceride oil (71.3%). Some owner justifications of DS use included improvement of seizure frequency (88.2%), seizure severity (61.8%) and protection from potential drug side effects (62.5%).Many owners give DS to their dog with IE. The pharmacokinetic properties of anti-epileptic drugs, such as efficacy, absorption and clearance can be influenced by other medications, diets and possibly by DS. We propose that use of DS should be considered and monitored by veterinary surgeons in epilepsy management.

Grey matter volume in healthy and epileptic beagles using voxel-based morphometry \u2013 a pilot study

BackgroundOne of the most common chronic neurological disorders in dogs is idiopathic epilepsy (IE) diagnosed as epilepsy without structural changes in the brain. In the current study the hypothesis should be proven that subtle grey matter changes occur in epileptic dogs. Therefore, magnetic resonance (MR) images of one dog breed (Beagles) were used to obtain an approximately uniform brain shape. Local differences in grey matter volume (GMV) were compared between 5 healthy Beagles and 10 Beagles with spontaneously recurrent seizures (5 dogs with IE and 5 dogs with structural epilepsy (SE)), using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). T1W images of all dogs were prepared using Amira 6.3.0 for brain extraction, FSL 4.1.8 for registration and SPM12 for realignment. After creation of tissue probability maps of cerebrospinal fluid, grey and white matter from control images to segment all extracted brains, GM templates for each group were constructed to normalize brain images for parametric statistical analysis, which was achieved using SPM12.ResultsEpileptic Beagles (IE and SE Beagles) displayed statistically significant reduced GMV in olfactory bulb, cingulate gyrus, hippocampus and cortex, especially in temporal and occipital lobes. Beagles with IE showed statistically significant decreased GMV in olfactory bulb, cortex of parietal and temporal lobe, hippocampus and cingulate gyrus, Beagles with SE mild statistically significant GMV reduction in temporal lobe (p < 0.05; family- wise error correction).ConclusionThese results suggest that, as reported in epileptic humans, focal reduction in GMV also occurs in epileptic dogs. Furthermore, the current study shows that VBM analysis represents an excellent method to detect GMV differences of the brain between a healthy dog group and dogs with epileptic syndrome, when MR images of one breed are used.

A novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification-based test for detecting Neospora caninum DNA

BackgroundNeospora caninum is a cyst-forming, coccidian parasite which is known to cause neurological disorders in dogs and abortion and neonatal mortality in cows and other livestock. This study reports the development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay based on the Neospora caninum Nc-5 gene and compares its efficacy for detecting DNA to that of a semi-nested PCR test.ResultsSix primers were designed based on the Nc-5 repeat region of N. caninum. Specific LAMP primers led to successful amplification of N. caninum DNA at 63 °C in 30 min. The LAMP assay was highly specific (i.e. it did not reveal cross-reactivity with other parasite species) and had a low N. caninum plasmid DNA limit of detection (1 fg), which is ten times higher than that for the semi-nested PCR. LAMP applicability was evaluated using a set of naturally-infected samples (59 from canine faeces and five from bovine abortions). Thirty-nine percent (25/64) of the naturally-infected samples were positive for N. caninum DNA by LAMP and 36% (23/64) by semi-nested PCR. However, the LAMP assay is much faster to perform than semi-nested PCR and provides results in 30 min.ConclusionThe optimized reaction conditions described in this study resulted in a sensitive, specific and rapid technique for detecting N. caninum DNA. Considering the advantages of LAMP for detecting N. caninum DNA, further assays aimed at testing its usefulness on a wider range of field samples are recommended.

Diffusion-weighted imaging of the brains of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy

BackgroundIdiopathic epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in dogs. Unfortunately, up to 30% of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy show no improvement under antiepileptic drug treatment. Diffusion-weighted imaging is used in human medicine to identify epileptogenic foci in the brain to allow for more invasive treatments such as deep brain stimulation or surgical removal.The aim of this study was to ass the feasibility of interictal diffusion-weighted MRI in dogs and to evaluate the distribution of diffusion in the brains of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE) and to compare these values to previously published values from healthy beagle dogs.Client-owned dogs with the final diagnosis of IE were included in this study. MRI examination was carried out using a 1.0Tesla superconductive magnet. Diffusion-weighted images using a single shot echo planar imaging sequence (SSh-EPI) with a b value of b = 0 s/mm2 and b = 800 s/mm2 were acquired in a dorsal and transverse plane with diffusion gradients in all three planes (x-, y- and z-plane). An ADC (apparent diffusion coefficient) map of the isometric image of each acquired slice was generated.Regions of interest (ROIs) were manually drawn around the caudate nucleus, the thalamus, the piriform lobe including the amygdala, the hippocampus, the semioval center and the temporal cerebral cortex by one of the authors. ROI drawings were repeated 5 times at different time points to assess intra-obersver variability. A multi-way mixed-model analysis of variance (ANOVA) and two-way ANOVA were used during statistical analysis. A p value of p < 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsDogs with IE showed a significantly increased ADC in the amygdala within the piriform lobe and in the semioval center (p < 0.05) compared with the healthy control group.ConclusionChanges in the piriform lobe in cases of epilepsy are reported infrequently in human and veterinary medicine. Similar to our results, ADC changes in the interictal phase usually include an increase in ADC due to cell loss and increased intercellular spaces. Diffusion MRI might be a promising technique for the examination of canine epileptic patients lacking other gross neuromorphological abnormalities.

Survival in feline epilepsy: the long and short of it

Both quality and quantity of life are of importance to the owners of companion animals,1 and in ideal circumstances, each veterinary treatment would ensure high quality of life and increase...

Isolation and characterization of canine placenta-derived mesenchymal stromal cells for the treatment of neurological disorders in dogs.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating disorder that affects humans and dogs. The prognosis of SCI depends on the severity of the injury and can include varying levels of motor and sensory deficits including devastating paraplegia and quadriplegia. Placental mesenchymal stromal cells (PMSCs) have been shown to improve wound healing and possess neuroprotective and immunomodulatory capabilities, but have not yet been clinically tested for the treatment of SCI. This study established a protocol to isolate fetal PMSCs from canine placentas and characterized their paracrine secretion profile and ability to stimulate neurons in vitro to assess their potential as a treatment option for neurological disorders in dogs. Canine PMSCs (cPMSCs) were plastic adherent and capable of trilineage differentiation. cPMSCs expressed typical MSC markers and did not express hematopoietic or endothelial cell markers. Genotyping of cPMSCs revealed fetal rather than maternal origin of the cells. cPMSCs were viable and mitotically expansive in a collagen hydrogel delivery vehicle, and they secreted the immunomodulatory and neurotrophic paracrine factors interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). cPMSCs also stimulated the growth of complex neural networks when co-cultured with SH-SY5Y cells, a neuroblastoma cell line used to model neuron growth in vitro. cPMSCs are analogous to human PMSCs. They meet the criteria to be defined as MSCs and represent a potential regenerative therapy option for neurological disorders in dogs with their robust growth in collagen hydrogel, stimulation of neural network formation, and secretion of potent paracrine factors. © 2017 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.

Wild boar offal as a probable source of Aujeszky’s disease virus for hunting dogs in Poland

AbstractIntroduction:Aujeszky’s disease (AD), most often related to infection of domestic and feral swine, may also concern other mammals, including dogs. The disease in carnivores, related to consumption of raw meat or offal contaminated with AD virus, is manifested by severe neurological disorders and inevitably leads to animal’s death.Material and Methods:Karelian bear dog was euthanised due to nervous symptoms that started two days after participation in wild boar hunting. After exclusion of rabies the dog’s carcass was subjected to standard necropsy. Tissue samples were collected for histological examination. Samples of the brain were tested for ADV by real-time PCR and virus isolation. Samples of the liver were collected for toxicological examination.Results:The presence of ADV was confirmed by real-time PCR and virus isolation. Toxicological examination revealed anticoagulant poisoning. This is the first case of Aujeszky’s disease (AD) in a hunting dog in Poland after exposure to ADV from offal of wild boar.Conclusion:This infection should be taken into consideration in differential diagnosis of syndromes of neurological disorders in dogs. Since AD is found in both domestic pigs and wild boar in Poland, special care must be taken to prevent spread of infection to other species.

Changes in neurotransmitter levels and expression of immediate early genes in brain of mice infected with Neospora caninum.

Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes neurological disorders in dogs and cattle. The majority of host animals are asymptomatic at the chronic stage of infection. However, it remains unclear whether cerebral function is normal in asymptomatic animals. In this study, mice were infected with N. caninum (strain Nc-1) and their brains were examined to understand changes in cerebral function at the chronic stage of infection. Mice infected with N. caninum showed impaired locomotor activity, but no differences in clinical symptoms were observed. In the brains of infected mice, parasites were distributed throughout the brain and histological lesions were observed everywhere except for the cerebellum. Expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines, interferon-gamma and tumour necrosis factor-alpha, were highly upregulated in several brain regions of infected mice. Additionally, the level of neurotransmitters glutamate, glycine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine, were altered in infected mice compared with those of uninfected mice. Interestingly, the expression levels of immediately early genes, c-Fos and Arc, in the brain of infected mice were lower than those of in uninfected mice. Our findings may provide insight into neurological disorders associated with N. caninum infection.