Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Neck pain and fever from aseptic meningitis in Norwegian Nova Scotia
By Anfinsen, Kristin P et al.·Published in Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire·2008·Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A retrospective epidemiological study of clinical signs and familial predisposition associated with aseptic meningitis in the Norwegian population of Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers born 1994-2003.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers in Norway were found to have a serious condition called aseptic meningitis, which causes severe neck pain, fever, and lethargy. This study discovered that about 2.5% of these dogs were affected, and many required long-term treatment with corticosteroids, while some sadly had to be euthanized due to treatment failure. The research also suggested that there may be hereditary factors contributing to the increased cases in this breed, as many affected dogs could trace their lineage back to a common ancestor.
People also search for: Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever meningitis symptoms · dog neck pain treatment · hereditary diseases in Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers
Abstract
Aseptic meningitis (AM) is a disease that causes grave clinical signs such as intensive neck pain, fever, and lethargy. The severity of this disease is reflected in the fact that affected animals require long-term, and in chronic cases, lifelong therapy with corticosteroids. A number of dogs must be euthanized because of therapeutic failure. In recent years, the Norwegian population of Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers has experienced an increase in individuals with AM. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of AM and to pursue the suspicion of hereditary factors influencing an accumulation of AM cases in the breed. Using the Norwegian Kennel Club registery, a random sample (362 dogs) stratified by year of birth was drawn from the total population born from 1994 to 2003 (1525 individuals). The owners were contacted and questioned about clinical signs of AM in their dogs. Subsequently, the practising veterinarians and the breeders of positive responders were contacted in order to confirm a clinical diagnosis of AM and to identify possible affected family members. Pedigrees of AM positive individuals and affected relatives were investigated. The study estimated a prevalence of AM of 2.5%. For all affected dogs, it was possible to trace the pedigree of both parents of affected dogs back to a specific founder dog. The genealogical investigation strongly indicates that genetic factors are involved in the etiology of the disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18783024/