ABSTRACT
Four dogs with acute neurological signs caused by haemorrhages in the central nervous system were diagnosed with Angiostrongylus vasorum infection as the underlying aetiology. Two dogs presented with brain lesions, one dog with spinal cord lesions and one with lesions in both the brain and spinal cord. Only one dog presented with concurrent signs of classical pulmonary angiostrongylosis (respiratory distress, cough), and only two dogs displayed overt clinical signs of haemorrhages. Results of coagulation assays were inconsistent. Neurological signs reflected the site of pathology and included seizures, various cranial nerve deficits, vestibular signs, proprioceptive deficits, ataxia and paraplegia. One dog died and three were euthanised due to lack of improvement despite medical treatment. This emphasises canine angiostrongylosis as a potential cause of fatal lesions of the central nervous system and the importance of including A. vasorum as a differential diagnosis in young dogs with acute neurological signs in Denmark.
Subject(s)
Angiostrongylus , Central Nervous System Helminthiasis/veterinary , Dog Diseases/diagnosis , Lung Diseases, Parasitic/veterinary , Strongylida Infections/veterinary , Animals , Brain/parasitology , Brain/pathology , Central Nervous System Helminthiasis/diagnosis , Central Nervous System Helminthiasis/drug therapy , Central Nervous System Helminthiasis/parasitology , Denmark , Diagnosis, Differential , Dog Diseases/drug therapy , Dog Diseases/parasitology , Dogs , Fatal Outcome , Female , Hemorrhage/diagnosis , Hemorrhage/parasitology , Lung/parasitology , Lung/pathology , Lung Diseases, Parasitic/diagnosis , Lung Diseases, Parasitic/drug therapy , Lung Diseases, Parasitic/parasitology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/veterinary , Male , Strongylida Infections/diagnosis , Strongylida Infections/drug therapy , Strongylida Infections/parasitologyABSTRACT
Sixteen cats with cerebrovascular disease confirmed via histology to be of nontraumatic and nonneoplastic origins are described. In addition, the anatomy of the arterial supply of the cat's brain is reviewed. It is suggested that this unique arterial design may influence the incidence of cerebrovascular accidents in this species. Of the 16 cats reviewed, seven cats had ischemic infarctions, five had hemorrhagic infarctions, and four were diagnosed with intracranial hemorrhage. The median age was 8 yr and 9.5 yr in cats with infarctions and intracranial hemorrhages, respectively. Clinical signs were severe, acute, consistent with the localization of the cerebrovascular lesion, and influenced by underlying pathology. Four cats with infarction showed lateralized neurologic signs. Four cats with infarctions were diagnosed with pulmonary disease antemortem and three cats had hyperthyroidism. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis and computed tomography scans were available in two cats. None of the infarctions were grossly visible. All cats with hemorrhagic infarcts had severe liver pathology and nephritis was identified in four cats. Hypoxia was a feature in four cats and one cat suffered cardiac failure. In conclusion, the clinical picture is influenced by the type of cerebrovascular disease, the localization of the intracranial lesions, and any underlying pathology.
