Intracranial abscess formation in an adult alpaca: a case report

Abstract

Background Intracranial abscess formation is an extremely rare and sporadically documented disease in South American Camelids (SACs). Herein we report the first case of otogenic brain abscess formation in this species. Case presentation A 4 years old female alpaca was presented to our veterinary hospital with a 6 month history of neurologic disorder symptoms, mainly head tilt to the right and emaciation. A comprehensive workup (ultrasound and computed tomography) revealed irreversible cranial nerve abnormalities, extensive lesions in the region of external, middle and internal right ear including destruction of bony structures (tympanic bulla, parts of temporal bone) and severe brain deformation caused by an intracranial abscess. The lesion was up to 6x7x4 cm and occupying almost 40% of the cranial cavity. No pathological findings were evident in other organs or structures. The late referral of the alpaca at this advanced stage of destructive disease precluded surgical intervention. Conclusions This case report describes the clinical signs, diagnostic procedures and pathological findings in an adult female alpaca suffering from cranial nerve abnormalities caused by a massive otogenic brain abscess. Camelids suffering from otitis may not present with clinical signs until the pathology is severe. The importance of considering intracranial abscess formation as differential diagnosis in SACs showing the merest hint of nerve deficits cannot be emphasized enough in order to diagnose such pathological processes at an early and treatable stage.

Intracranial inflammatory polyp with cerebellopontine compression and leptomeningitis secondary to chronic otitis in a red kangaroo

“…7 Meningoencephalitis associated with middle or inner ear infections have been described infrequently in dogs and cats, 11 small ruminants, 1 cattle, 13 and New World camelids. 3 In macropods, suppurative meningoencephalitis secondary to chronic otitis has been described in a wallaby. 4 On a search of PubMed, CAB Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google, we found one case of chronic otitis with secondary osteomyelitis in a red kangaroo, with no gross or histologic lesions in the CNS.…”