Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with brain infection from Toxoplasma and high blood sodium
By Weingart, Christiane et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2016·From the Department of Veterinary Pathology (A.D.G.) and Clinic of Small Animals (C.W., Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hypernatremia in a Cat with Toxoplasma-Induced Panencephalitis.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old female cat was brought in because she was showing signs of dehydration, confusion, and uneven pupil size. Tests revealed high sodium levels in her blood, which indicated a serious brain issue. Imaging showed damage in her brain structures, and unfortunately, due to the poor prognosis, she was euthanized. Further examination confirmed that a Toxoplasma infection was causing severe brain inflammation, leading to her symptoms and the high sodium levels.
People also search for: cat dehydration symptoms · Toxoplasma infection in cats · cat neurological signs · cat high sodium levels treatment
Abstract
A 12 yr old female neutered Carthusian crossbreed cat was presented due to progressive neurological signs. Clinical signs included dehydration, stupor, and anisocoria. Laboratory examination revealed severe hypernatremia, azotemia, hyperglobulinemia, and an erythrocytosis. Clinical signs and hypernatremia suggested an intracranial process. Imaging studies revealed a loss of structure in the cerebrum, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland. Due to a poor prognosis, the cat was euthanatized. Histopathological examination revealed a subacute granulomatous and necrotizing panencephalitis with Toxoplasma-typical protozoa. The Toxoplasma-induced dysfunction of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland led to diabetes insipidus, which was, in combination with insufficient water intake, the most likely cause for the hypernatremia.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26606207/