Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
MRI brain scan features in four dogs with central nervous system
By Parzefall, Birgit et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2014·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics in four dogs with central nervous system neosporosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old mixed-breed dog was diagnosed with central nervous system neosporosis, a disease that can cause inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. The dog showed signs of neurological issues, including problems with coordination and balance. MRI scans revealed brain lesions and cerebellar atrophy, which are common indicators of this condition. Treatment typically involves medications to manage symptoms and support recovery. With appropriate care, dogs with central nervous system neosporosis can improve, but ongoing monitoring is essential.
People also search for: dog brain lesions · central nervous system neosporosis treatment · dog coordination problems
Abstract
Neosporosis is a polysystemic disease that can affect dogs of any age and can cause inflammation of the central nervous system. Antemortem diagnosis can be challenging, as clinical and conventional laboratory test findings are often nonspecific. A previous report described cerebellar lesions in brain MRI studies of seven dogs and proposed that these may be characteristic for central nervous system Neosporosis. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe MRI characteristics in another group of dogs with confirmed central nervous system neosporosis and compare them with the previous report. The hospital's database was searched for dogs with confirmed central nervous system neosporosis and four observers recorded findings from each dog's MRI studies. A total of four dogs met inclusion criteria. Neurologic examination was indicative of a forebrain and cerebellar lesion in dog 2 and multifocal central nervous system disease in dogs 1, 3, and 4. Magnetic resonance imaging showed mild bilateral and symmetrical cerebellar atrophy in three of four dogs (dogs 2, 3, 4), intramedullary spinal cord changes in two dogs (dogs 3, 4) and a mesencephalic and metencephalic lesion in one dog (dog 2). Multifocal brain lesions were recognized in two dogs (dogs 1, 4) and were present in the thalamus, lentiform nucleus, centrum semiovale, internal capsule, brainstem and cortical gray matter of the frontal, parietal or temporal lobe. Findings indicated that central nervous system neosporosis may be characterized by multifocal MRI lesions as well as cerebellar involvement in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24766225/