Myelitis and Meningitis

Abstract

Animals with meningomyelitis have clinical neurologic signs that typically range from paraspinal discomfort to tetraplegia; however, most affected animals also show evidence of multifocal CNS involvement with brain stem and cerebral cortical structures being affected most commonly. The cause, duration, and host response to the disease process will determine the clinical signs in individual animals. Confirmation of a specific causative agent is difficult, but CSF analysis and immunotesting of serum and CSF yield the most rewarding diagnostic results. Successful treatment is based on formulation of an appropriate and aggressive therapeutic regimen. In some diseases, no effective treatment is available, and some animals may develop permanent neurologic disabilities.

Plasma and serum concentrations of cytarabine administered via continuous intravenous infusion to dogs with meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown etiology

“…Meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown etiology (MUE) is one of the most common causes of inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) disease in the dog (Sorjonen, ; Tipold, ; Cuddon et al ., ). MUE is a term encompassing a spectrum of inflammatory CNS conditions affecting the brain and/or spinal cord of dogs.…”

Meningomyelitis in dogs: a retrospective review of 28 cases (1999 to 2007)

“…The clinical signs associated with meningomyelitis reflect the region of the CNS involved and can include paraspinal hyperaesthesia, general proprioceptive ataxia and limb paresis or paralysis (Sorjonen 1992). Although the cervical spinal cord is considered anecdotally to be the most commonly affected site, lesions can be present in any spinal cord segment, and, in some instances, can result in a multi‐focal myelopathy (Sorjonen 1992, Tipold 1995).…”

“…The clinical signs associated with meningomyelitis reflect the region of the CNS involved and can include paraspinal hyperaesthesia, general proprioceptive ataxia and limb paresis or paralysis (Sorjonen 1992). Although the cervical spinal cord is considered anecdotally to be the most commonly affected site, lesions can be present in any spinal cord segment, and, in some instances, can result in a multi‐focal myelopathy (Sorjonen 1992, Tipold 1995). Intervertebral disc herniation, spinal cord neoplasia, vertebral column instability, discospondylitis and many other aetiologies cannot be reliably distinguished from meningomyelitis solely based on physical examination findings and neuroanatomical localisation (Meric 1988, Thomas 1998).…”

Steroid responsive meningitis‐arteritis in dogs: Long‐term study of 32 cases

“…In recent years a so-called steroid responsive meningitis in dogs has become a well known disease in small animal practice (Russo and others 1983, Meric andothers 1985, 1986, Kalin and others 1987, Luttgen 1988, Meric 1988, Presthus 1991, Sorjonen 1992. Recently, a similar disease has been published under the name of 'corticosteroid-responsive meningomyelitis' (Irving and Chrisman 1990), describing the additional involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) tissue.…”

“…Recently, a similar disease has been published under the name of 'corticosteroid-responsive meningomyelitis' (Irving and Chrisman 1990), describing the additional involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) tissue. Some authors (Meric and others 1985, Meric 1988, Sorjonen 1992 differentiate between 'steroid responsive meningitis' and 'vasculitis' affecting the arteries of the CNS, which was also described in older reports (Vandevelde and Fankhauser 1972, Hoff and Vandevelde 1981). A similar condition is known under different names in beagle colonies, including 'beagle pain syndrome' (Hayes and others 1989), 'necrotising vasculitis' or 'polyarteritis' (Harcourt 1978, Stejskal and others 1982, Brooks 1984, Scott-Montcrieff and others 1992), 'canine pain syndrome' (Burns and others 1991) and 'canine juvenile polyarteritis syndrome' (Felsburg and others 1992).…”