Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cerebrospinal Fluid Cytokine and Chemokine Analysis in Dogs With Meningoencephalitis of Unknown Origin or Idiopathic Epilepsy.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary internal medicine
- Year:
- 2025
- Authors:
- Byron, Michael J et al.
- Affiliation:
- College of Veterinary Medicine · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at dogs with brain diseases, specifically those diagnosed with meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUE), idiopathic epilepsy (IE), and brain tumors. Researchers analyzed samples of cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord) to see if certain proteins could help distinguish between these conditions. They found that specific proteins were present more often and in higher amounts in dogs with MUE compared to those with epilepsy or tumors. The findings suggest that these proteins could be useful in diagnosing MUE in dogs.
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: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40859633/