Disseminated <i>Neospora caninum</i> Encephalomyelitis and Myositis in a 3-Month-Old Cane Corso Puppy

We present a case of fatal disseminated neosporosis in a 3-month-old Cane Corso puppy. The puppy presented to the Purdue Veterinary Hospital emergency service with a 1-week history of progressive left hindlimb lameness. On presentation, the puppy was nonambulatory paraparetic. Signs progressed over...

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Main Authors: Abigail L. English, Joshuah B. Klutzke, Stephanie A. Thomovsky, Nobuko Wakamatsu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/11/544
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author Abigail L. English
Joshuah B. Klutzke
Stephanie A. Thomovsky
Nobuko Wakamatsu
author_facet Abigail L. English
Joshuah B. Klutzke
Stephanie A. Thomovsky
Nobuko Wakamatsu
author_sort Abigail L. English
collection DOAJ
description We present a case of fatal disseminated neosporosis in a 3-month-old Cane Corso puppy. The puppy presented to the Purdue Veterinary Hospital emergency service with a 1-week history of progressive left hindlimb lameness. On presentation, the puppy was nonambulatory paraparetic. Signs progressed over two days to nonambulatory tetraparesis, and decreased to absent limb reflexes, cranial nerve deficits, and dull mentation. Blood work showed eosinophilia, elevated ALT, and extremely elevated creatine kinase at 36,000 IU/L (reference interval 22–491 IU/L). Two days after diagnostics were performed, the puppy experienced acute cardiac arrest, and the body was submitted for necropsy. At necropsy, skeletal muscle in all four limbs was diffusely pale tan. Tan streaks were disseminated through the diaphragm, abdominal wall, and myocardium. Histologically, Skeletal myocytes and cardiomyocytes were frequently degenerative, with abundant lymphohistiocytic inflammation and fibrosis. White matter within the brain and spinal cord was inflamed and contained frequent dilated myelin sheaths and spheroids. A few protozoal cysts were within the brain and skeletal myocytes. Antemortem antibody titers were positive for IgG against <i>Neospora caninum</i> (dilution titer of 1:4096, baseline 1:32), confirming protozoal cysts as <i>Neospora caninum</i>. Disseminated neosporosis is an uncommon but important clinical differential for ascending paresis in young dogs.
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spelling doaj-art-fa0c68d2df9a40538b3a711f8d65d27b2024-11-26T18:24:52ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812024-11-01111154410.3390/vetsci11110544Disseminated <i>Neospora caninum</i> Encephalomyelitis and Myositis in a 3-Month-Old Cane Corso PuppyAbigail L. English0Joshuah B. Klutzke1Stephanie A. Thomovsky2Nobuko Wakamatsu3Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USADepartment of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USADepartment of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USAIndiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USAWe present a case of fatal disseminated neosporosis in a 3-month-old Cane Corso puppy. The puppy presented to the Purdue Veterinary Hospital emergency service with a 1-week history of progressive left hindlimb lameness. On presentation, the puppy was nonambulatory paraparetic. Signs progressed over two days to nonambulatory tetraparesis, and decreased to absent limb reflexes, cranial nerve deficits, and dull mentation. Blood work showed eosinophilia, elevated ALT, and extremely elevated creatine kinase at 36,000 IU/L (reference interval 22–491 IU/L). Two days after diagnostics were performed, the puppy experienced acute cardiac arrest, and the body was submitted for necropsy. At necropsy, skeletal muscle in all four limbs was diffusely pale tan. Tan streaks were disseminated through the diaphragm, abdominal wall, and myocardium. Histologically, Skeletal myocytes and cardiomyocytes were frequently degenerative, with abundant lymphohistiocytic inflammation and fibrosis. White matter within the brain and spinal cord was inflamed and contained frequent dilated myelin sheaths and spheroids. A few protozoal cysts were within the brain and skeletal myocytes. Antemortem antibody titers were positive for IgG against <i>Neospora caninum</i> (dilution titer of 1:4096, baseline 1:32), confirming protozoal cysts as <i>Neospora caninum</i>. Disseminated neosporosis is an uncommon but important clinical differential for ascending paresis in young dogs.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/11/544caninecongenitalencephalitismyositis<i>Neospora</i>paresis
spellingShingle Abigail L. English
Joshuah B. Klutzke
Stephanie A. Thomovsky
Nobuko Wakamatsu
Disseminated <i>Neospora caninum</i> Encephalomyelitis and Myositis in a 3-Month-Old Cane Corso Puppy
Veterinary Sciences
canine
congenital
encephalitis
myositis
<i>Neospora</i>
paresis
title Disseminated <i>Neospora caninum</i> Encephalomyelitis and Myositis in a 3-Month-Old Cane Corso Puppy
title_full Disseminated <i>Neospora caninum</i> Encephalomyelitis and Myositis in a 3-Month-Old Cane Corso Puppy
title_fullStr Disseminated <i>Neospora caninum</i> Encephalomyelitis and Myositis in a 3-Month-Old Cane Corso Puppy
title_full_unstemmed Disseminated <i>Neospora caninum</i> Encephalomyelitis and Myositis in a 3-Month-Old Cane Corso Puppy
title_short Disseminated <i>Neospora caninum</i> Encephalomyelitis and Myositis in a 3-Month-Old Cane Corso Puppy
title_sort disseminated i neospora caninum i encephalomyelitis and myositis in a 3 month old cane corso puppy
topic canine
congenital
encephalitis
myositis
<i>Neospora</i>
paresis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/11/544
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AT joshuahbklutzke disseminatedineosporacaninumiencephalomyelitisandmyositisina3montholdcanecorsopuppy
AT stephanieathomovsky disseminatedineosporacaninumiencephalomyelitisandmyositisina3montholdcanecorsopuppy
AT nobukowakamatsu disseminatedineosporacaninumiencephalomyelitisandmyositisina3montholdcanecorsopuppy