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Results suggested that cranial cavity volume and morphological abnormalities can be detected in sheep with CC. These changes may reflect abnormalities in ossification of the cranial bones secondary to chronically increased ICP caused by development of T multiceps cysts.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of iso-osmolar doses of 18% mannitol and 3% sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions in decreasing intracranial pressure (ICP) in animals with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).Design: Prospective uncontrolled interventional study.Setting: Veterinary university teaching hospital. Animals: Two cats and 1 dog with TBI with a modified Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤8 after hemodynamic stabilization, and with brain magnetic resonance imaging changes suggestive of intracranial hypertension.Interventions: Animals were surgically instrumented for direct ICP measurement, then randomly treated with iso-osmolar doses of 18% mannitol or 3% NaCl. Direct ICP and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) were recorded both before treatment and for 120 minutes following drug administration. Measurements and Main Results:Direct ICP and CPP were recorded both before treatment and at 5 additional time points following administration over the subsequent 120 minutes. Case 1 received 3% NaCl without any response to therapy; refractory posttraumatic hypertension was suspected. Case 2 was treated with 3% NaCl; ICP decreased by 40.7% and CPP increased by 15%; however, these effects were transient. Case 3 received 18% mannitol, and ICP decreased by 19% and CPP increased to normal. However, there was a rebound increase in ICP that was higher than pretreatment values, and CPP decreased slightly before it gradually increased to normal values towards the end of the study. Conclusions:Both mannitol and hypertonic saline decrease ICP and improve CPP, but the effect observed in this pilot study suggests that there might be differences in the duration of these Abbreviations: BG, blood glucose; CBF, cerebral blood flow; CPP, cerebral perfusion pressure; HR, heart rate; HTS, hypertonic saline solution; ICH, intracranial hypertension; ICP, intracranial pressure; MGCS, Modified Glasgow Coma Scale; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; TBI, traumatic brain injury.

This survey describes the evolution in vivo of Coenurus cerebralis in small ruminants. At presentation, neurological signs and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) features were suggestive of multifocal or diffuse inflammatory reaction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) captured the transition between the invasive and quiescent phase of the infection, revealing the concurrent presence of meningitis and small cysts. During the quiescent phase, in all animals, neurological symptoms disappeared, and cerebrospinal fluid was unremarkable while cysts grew progressively. Subsequently, the onset of neurological symptoms coincided with MRI signs of diffuse or localized increase of intracranial pressure, as confirmed by direct intracranial pressure measuring. All the animals had an excellent post-surgical recovery. This is the first report describing the evolution of coenurosis in vivo. Sequential imaging allowed describing interesting such as the death of some coenuri and different parasite growth rate in the same host.

Objectives The objectives of this study were to test: (1) the repeatability of ultrasonographic examination of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in the cat; (2) the association between the ONSD and age, sex and body weight in healthy cats; and (3) the difference in the ONSD between healthy cats and those suffering from presumed intracranial hypertension (ICH). Methods This study had a prospective, blinded, observational cross-sectional study design. Two groups of animals were considered: healthy cats (group A) and cats with a diagnosis of presumed ICH (group B). The ONSD was evaluated, measured and compared between the two groups via an ultrasonographic transpalpebral approach. Repeatability of the procedure was evaluated through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Data were statistically compared using the Student’s t-test and linear regression analysis. Results A strong inter- and intraobserver ICC indicating good repeatability was observed. The interobserver ICC was 0.965 ( P  <0.05) for the right eye and 0.956 ( P  <0.05) for the left eye. The intraobserver ICC was 0.988 ( P  <0.05) and 0.984 ( P  <0.05), or the right and left eyes, respectively. In healthy cats the mean ± SD ONSD was 1.23 ± 0.11 mm (range 1–1.47 mm) and 1.23 ± 0.10 (range 1–1.4 mm) for right and left eyes, respectively. The ONSD was not related to sex or weight; a weak relationship was observed with age. In group B, the mean ONSD was 1.68 ± 0.13 mm (range 1.5–1.9 mm) and 1.61 ± 0.15 mm (range 1.4–1.9 mm) for the right and left eyes, respectively. In group B, the ONSD was statistically significantly larger than in group A, the healthy cats ( P  <0.001). Conclusions and relevance The transpalpebral ultrasonographic technique is a non-invasive, feasible and reproducible method to measure ONSD both in healthy cats and in cats suffering from suspected ICH.