RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The information relating to the outcome specifically for juvenile dogs with meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology (MUE) is lacking. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, treatment, and outcome in a cohort of dogs with MUE <52 weeks old. ANIMALS: Thirty-four client-owned dogs. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective case series. Records from 5 referral centers were searched. Data was extracted from the medical records and referring veterinarians were contacted for survival data if this was not available from the record. RESULTS: The mean age was 31 weeks; the youngest dog was 11 weeks and 3 dogs were <16 weeks old. Altered mentation (71%), ataxia (44%), seizures (29%), and circling (26%) were the most common presenting complaints. Neuroanatomical localization was to the forebrain (38%), multifocal (35%), brainstem (18%), and cerebellum (12%). Corticosteroid monotherapy (n = 15) and corticosteroid plus cytosine arabinoside (n = 15) were used in equal proportions. Outcome data was available for 26 dogs, 8 (31%) were alive at the time of data collection with a follow-up range of 135 to 2944 days. Death or euthanasia was related to MUE in 17/18 dogs that died during the study period. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated a median survival time for all-cause death of 84 days. CONCLUSION: The prognosis for MUE in this subset of dogs was considered poor.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Bacterial meningitis (BM) and meningoencephalitis (BMEM) are associated with high case fatality rates and neurologic sequelae in people, but limited data exists on outcome in dogs. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To report the clinicopathologic features, treatment and outcome of BM/BMEM in dogs, with a focus on clinical presentation, relapse and long-term neurological deficits. ANIMALS: Twenty-four client-owned dogs diagnosed with BM/BMEM without empyema. METHODS: Retrospective case series of dogs diagnosed with BM/BMEM from 5 veterinary referral hospitals between January 2010 and August 2020. RESULTS: Twenty-four dogs were included. Median duration of clinical signs was 2 days (range ≤24 hours to 30 days) and signs recorded included pyrexia (3) and cervical hyperesthesia (10). Neurological deficits were present in 18 dogs including altered mentation (12), ataxia (8), nonambulatory status (8), head tilt (8), and cranial nerve deficits (13). Intracellular bacteria were visualized on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis in 15/24 dogs, with positive CSF bacteriological culture in 8/21. Otitis media/interna (OMI) was diagnosed in 15/24 dogs, of which 6/15 dogs underwent total ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy. Twenty dogs survived to hospital discharge. Median duration of antibiotic administrations was 8 weeks (range, 2-16 weeks). Glucocorticoids were administered to 15 dogs. Median follow-up time was 92 days (range, 10-2233 days). Residual neurological deficits were reported in 9 dogs, with a single case of suspected relapse. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Clinical signs were variable in dogs with BM/BMEM, the nidus of bacterial infection was often OMI and the majority of dogs made a full recovery with treatment.
