Computed tomographic findings and treatment of a bull with pituitary gland abscess

Abstract

BackgroundIn cattle, the prognosis of brain abscess is unfavourable and treatment is therefore not recommended. To the knowledge of the authors, there has been no report of successful treatment of a brain abscess in cattle.This report describes the clinical, computed tomographic and postmortem findings in a Holstein–Friesian bull with a hypophyseal abscess.Case reportThe main clinical findings were generalised ataxia, ptyalism, prolapse of the tongue, dropped jaw, dysphagia, head tilt and unilateral ptosis. Cerebrospinal fluid evaluation revealed 2437 leukocytes/µl and severe pleocytosis. CT examination of the head showed a cavitary lesion consistent with an abscess in the hypophysis. Treatment consisted of gentamicin and flunixin meglumine for 3 days and amoxicillin for 40 days. The neurological signs resolved within 8 days of the start of treatment. The bull was slaughtered 11 months later because of infertility, and a postmortem examination was carried out. Histologically, a mild chronic non suppurative meningoencephalitis restricted to the ventral diencephalon was diagnosed. In addition, there was mild to moderate multifocal chronic lymphoplasmacytic hypophysitis with mild multifocal fibrosis.ConclusionsThis case report stresses the significance of CT in confirming the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of central nervous system disorders in cattle and for localising brain lesions. Treatment of the brain abscess resulted, with respect to the central nervous disorder, in a successful outcome and was encouraging considering that most cases have an unfavourable prognosis.

Cerebrospinal fluid analysis in 58 ruminants showing neurological disorders

“…In sheep and goats, E. coli, Pasteurella sp., Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, Streptococcus sp., and Trueperella pyogenes have already been cultured from clinical cases (Mayhew 2009). Pituitary abscess syndrome (PAS), or basilar empyema, is a neurological disease characterized by the formation of abscesses in the vascular complex over the basosphenoid bone (Fernandes et al 2000, Braun et al 2017a). PAS was diagnosed in two calves (Cases 28 and 29) aged 8 and 11 months, associated with the use of a controlled suckling device and hematogenous dissemination from bronchopneumonia (Câmara et al 2009).…”

“…In other ruminants, CSF analysis may, however, be normal, indicating a non-suppurative response, or the CSF may be clearly purulent, with bacteria present (Mayhew 2009). Recently, a 22-month-old bull was diagnosed with PAS and revealed markedly increased, mixed pleocytosis (2,437 cells/ µL) and high protein concentration (3.1g/L) (Braun et al 2017a). In one of the CSF aliquots (Case 28), microbiological assays yielded T. pyogenes, the most common bacteria in chronic suppurative lesions of the brain in cattle (Fernandes et al 2000, Mayhew 2009).…”

“…In one of the CSF aliquots (Case 28), microbiological assays yielded T. pyogenes, the most common bacteria in chronic suppurative lesions of the brain in cattle (Fernandes et al 2000, Mayhew 2009). The treatment for PAS is usually considered ineffective, but favorable results have also been reported (Câmara et al 2009, Braun et al 2017a.…”

Pituitary gland abscess in a horse subsequent to head trauma

“…Haematogenous spread was the cause of pituitary abscesses in cattle, in several reports (Perdrizet and Dinsmore ; Braun et al . ). In a case series of seven horses, brain abscesses (including four pituitary abscesses) were thought to spread from the sinuses, nasal cavity, periocular tissues or submandibular lymph nodes (Smith et al .…”

“…It is unusual that there was little manifestation of cranial nerve deficits in this case, especially when compared to a similar case describing a pituitary abscess in a bull, in which a lack of tongue tone, jaw tone, dysphagia, salivation, a head tilt to the right and unilateral ptosis were observed (Braun et al . ). Conjunctival hyperaemia, causing erythema, can be observed with Horner's syndrome due to the interruption of sympathetic innervation causing vessels to vasodilate (Furr and Reed ).…”