Clinical findings in 10 foals with bacterial meningoencephalitis
Viu Mella, Judit (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
Monreal Bosch, Luis (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
Cesarini Latorre, Carlota (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
Armengou Ruiz, Lara (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
José Cunilleras, Eduard (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
Añor Torres, Sònia (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)

Date:	2012
Abstract:	Reasons for performing the study: Bacterial meningoencephalitis is a severe complication in septic foals and there is scarce and often unclear information in the equine literature. Objectives: To report the most frequent clinical signs, clinicopathological findings, causative agents, treatments given and outcome of a group of foals with confirmed bacterial meningoencephalitis. Methods: Foals aged < 6 months of age admitted to the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (2004-2009) with confirmed bacterial meningoencephalitis were retrospectively included in the study Diagnosis of bacterial meningoencephalitis was made by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture, CSF analysis consistent with bacterial infection, observation of bacteria in CSF cytology or postmortem confirmation. Results: Nine neonates and one 5-month-old foal were included. The most frequently observed clinical signs were alterations in mental status (10/10), recumbency (8/10), weakness (8/10), abnormal pupillary light reflexes (6/10), decreased suckling-reflex (6/9), seizures and/or nystagmus (4/10). Common clinicopathological alterations included yperfibrinogenaemia (8/9), hyperlactataemia (7/7), and neutropenia (5/10) or neutrophilia (5/10). Most neonates (8/9) developed bacterial meningoencephalitis despite having a sepsis score near the cut-off value (median = 12). On CSF analysis, pleocytosis (9/9), increased total protein concentration (5/6) and intracellular bacteria (6/9) were detected. The most frequently isolated bacterium was Escherichia coil. Once bacterial meningoencephalitis was diagnosed, antimicrobial therapy was switched to third and fourth generation cephalosporins. Conclusions: The diagnosis of bacterial meningoencephalitis is established based on CSF analysis and culture. Clinical recognition of bacterial meningoencephalitis is difficult and can be easily overlooked. Moreover, severe sepsis is not necessary to develop bacterial meningoencephalitis.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Neurologia veterinària ; Cavalls ; Meningitis ; Encefalitis equina ; Horse ; Neonate ; Septic meningitis ; Sepsis ; Neurological disease
Published in:	Equine Veterinary Journal, Vol. 44 Núm. 41 (2012) , p. 100, ISSN 2042-3306

DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00508.x
PMID: 22594036

5 p, 124.8 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Grup de Recerca Malalties infeccioses-inflamatòries en animals de companyia (MIAC)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles