Nematode eggs observed in cytology of cerebrospinal fluid diagnostic for intramedullary Spirocerca lupi spinal cord migration |
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Authors: | Sigal Klainbart Orit Chai Rafael Vaturi Kira Rapoport Itamar Aroch Merav Hagar Shamir |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care, The Hebrew University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel;2. Department of Neurology, The Hebrew University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel;3. Department of Small Animal Internal Medicine, The Hebrew University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel |
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Abstract: | Spinal spirocercosis due to aberrant Spirocerca lupi nematode migration is an emerging etiology for acute myelitis in dogs in Israel, causing severe, mostly nonsymmetrical hind limb paresis or paralysis, and sometimes tetraparesis or tetraparalysis. So far, incidental identification of parasites during spinal surgery or at necropsy provides the only definite diagnosis, while antemortem diagnosis of this condition has been uncertain. Specifically, antemortem diagnosis is based on the typical clinical presentation of acute, progressive, asymmetrical hind limb paresis or paralysis, with moderate to severe eosinophilic to mixed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis and increased CSF protein concentration. Exclusion of other differential diagnoses also requires using spinal cord imaging. In this novel report, we document a case of an intradural spinal spirocercosis in a dog, diagnosed antemortem, by detecting S lupi eggs in the CSF, and subsequent treatment, resulting in the resolution of the clinical signs. |
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Keywords: | Aberrant migration canine doramectin paresis spirocercosis |
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