ABSTRACT
Inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system are often challenging to diagnose. Necrotizing meningoencephalitis, necrotizing leukoencephalitis, and granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis have characteristic locations of lesions on histopathologic examination and, therefore, characteristic findings from advanced imaging. Together with clinical signs and clinicopathologic data, these characteristic imaging findings may aid in establishing an accurate antemortem diagnosis. Prompt diagnosis can lead to initiation of treatment using a combination of immunosuppressive drugs.
Subject(s)
Central Nervous System Diseases/veterinary , Dog Diseases/diagnosis , Inflammation/veterinary , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/veterinary , Animals , Central Nervous System Diseases/diagnosis , Central Nervous System Diseases/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Dog Diseases/pathology , Dogs , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Inflammation/diagnosis , Inflammation/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methodsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between different body positions during recumbency on the cranial migration of epidurally injected methylene blue in canine cadavers. SAMPLE POPULATION: 21 fresh cadavers of clinically normal adult female mixed-breed dogs. PROCEDURE: Dogs were randomly assigned to the following 3 groups: dogs remaining in right lateral recumbency (n = 7), dogs rotated from left to right lateral recumbency (7), and dogs rotated from dorsal to right lateral recumbency (7). Each dog received an epidural injection of 0.05% methylene blue (0.1 mL/kg) at the lumbosacral space. A dorsal laminectomy of the vertebral column was made, and cranial extent of methylene blue in 4 quadrants (right lateral, left lateral, ventral, and dorsal) was determined by examining dura mater staining. RESULTS: No significant difference was found among groups in regard to body weight or body condition score. Epidural cranial migration of methylene blue in the right lateral quadrant was significantly greater in dogs that remained in right lateral recumbency than in dogs that were rotated from left to right lateral recumbency. No significant difference was found within groups for epidural cranial migration of methylene blue between each quadrant. No significant relationship was found between body weight or body condition score and epidural cranial migration of methylene blue. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Body positioning and amount of recumbency time influence cranial migration of epidurally injected methylene blue. If greater cranial migration of an epidurally administered drug is desired, placing the patient in lateral recumbency with the surgical site on the dependent side may precede surgery.
Subject(s)
Coloring Agents/administration & dosage , Coloring Agents/pharmacokinetics , Methylene Blue/administration & dosage , Methylene Blue/pharmacokinetics , Posture , Animals , Cadaver , Dogs , Female , Injections, Epidural/veterinaryABSTRACT
Neospora caninum is a recently described apicomplexan parasite first isolated from a dog in 1988 and has subsequently been shown to infect a wide range of mammals. In mice, Neospora can cause primary pneumonia, myositis, encephalitis, radiculoneuritis, and pancreatitis. Whereas, certain aspects of the host immune response to Toxoplasma gondii have been well studied, not as much is known about the full immune response to Neospora. This paper examines whether or not immune splenocytes are able to adoptively transfer protection against N. caninum infection in BALB/c mice. Mice receiving immune enriched CD8+ cells had severe neurological signs by 19 days post infection. Mice receiving immune enriched CD4+ cells had mild neurological signs on day 22 post infection. It would appear that additional immune cells can precipitate disease in the presence of circulating lymphocytes.
Subject(s)
Coccidiosis/immunology , Neospora/immunology , Neospora/pathogenicity , Adoptive Transfer , Animals , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/transplantation , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/transplantation , Coccidiosis/etiology , Coccidiosis/parasitology , Concanavalin A/pharmacology , Dogs , Female , In Vitro Techniques , Interferon-gamma/blood , Interleukin-4/blood , Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Neospora/isolation & purification , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Seven serum samples of 101 samples from nondomestic, captive and free-ranging felids from the United States were indirect fluorescent antibody positive for antibodies to Neospora caninum, whereas 44 samples were positive for antibodies to T. gondii. Although none of the captive animals displayed clinical signs of disease, nondomestic felids in the United States have been exposed to, and are likely infected with, N. caninum and T. gondii. This may have serious implications for zoological gardens exhibiting susceptible animals, such as kangaroos, close to felids.
