Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cerebrospinal fluid markers in dogs with brain inflammation
By Byron, Michael J et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2025·College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cerebrospinal Fluid Cytokine and Chemokine Analysis in Dogs With Meningoencephalitis of Unknown Origin or Idiopathic Epilepsy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with brain disease, including meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUE) and idiopathic epilepsy, underwent tests to analyze their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for specific proteins. The study found that certain proteins, like GM-CSF and IFN-gamma, were more common in dogs with MUE compared to those with epilepsy or brain tumors. This suggests that these proteins could help vets diagnose MUE more accurately. Identifying these markers in CSF could lead to better treatment options for affected dogs.
People also search for: dog brain disease symptoms · meningoencephalitis in dogs treatment · idiopathic epilepsy in dogs diagnosis
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Current diagnosis of brain disease in dogs is dependent on imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, including total nucleated cell counts and albumin concentrations. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To determine whether multiplex cytokine/chemokine (Ct/Cm) analysis can differentiate among dogs with meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUE), idiopathic epilepsy (IE), and brain neoplasia. ANIMALS: Client owned dogs diagnosed with brain disease with MRI and CSF diagnostics. Groups included 18 dogs with a diagnosis of MUE, 21 dogs with IE, and 7 dogs with brain tumors. METHODS: A retrospective observational study; a multiplex immunoassay was utilized to measure CSF concentrations for the following: Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-15, and IL-18, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC)-like protein, IFN-γ-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). RESULTS: Several Ct/Cm were detected only in MUE cases: GM-CSF (9/18), IFN-γ (13/18), IL-2 (8/18), IL-15 (4/18), and TNF-α (11/18). Other Ct/Cm concentrations were significantly higher in MUE cases (IL-8: median 101 pg/mL, range 144, p = 0.019; IL-18: median 3 pg/mL, range 0.52, p < 0.001; MCP-1: median 814 pg/mL, range 1319, p = 0.004; and IL-6: median 5 pg/mL, range 16, p < 0.001) compared to epilepsy and neoplasia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: IFN-γ, TNF-α, GM-CSF, IL-2, and IL-15 might be specific markers of MUE in canine CSF and could be potentially useful biomarkers in the diagnosis of MUE.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40859633/