Signs of spinal cord disease in two heifers caused by Listeria monocytogenes

Abstract

THE most common manifestation of Listeria monocytogenes infection (listeriosis) in cattle is meningoencephalitis. The clinical signs are characteristic and result from lesions in the brainstem, pons or cerebellum (Cooper and Walker 1998). In sheep, a central nervous system form ofthe disease has been described in which lesions are restricted to the spinal cord. Affected animals have paralysis of one or more limbs, a normal mental status and no loss of cranial nerve function (Gates and others 1967, Seaman and others 1990). This short communication describes two Swiss Braunvieh heifers from different farms with myelitis caused by L monocytogenes infection.Heifer 1 was 18 months old and was presented with a three-day history of fever and ataxia. The heifer was in lateral recumbency and had been unable to rise for two days. The animal had an obvious opisthotonos, but was still chewing the cud. After being propped up, the heifer could hold itself in sternal position with a normal posture of the head and neck. The rectal temperature was 37-2°C and the heart rate was 48 bpm. The heifer was bright and alert; its feed and water intake were normal. There was no tail tone, and the anal and panniculus reflexes were severely reduced. Tetraplegia was noted when the heifer was lifted using a cow lift. The heifer had been treated with antibiotics and cortisone for two days before referral to the clinic.Heifer 2 was 12 months old and had a four-day history of hindlimb ataxia and fever. However, the animal was bright, alert and standing. The rectal temperature was 38-7°C and the heart rate was 84 bpm. Mental status and cranial nerve function were normal, but the heifer had mild, intermittent hindlimb ataxia and hypermetria of the hindlimbs when walking over a small obstacle. The heifer had an increased total leucocyte count. Before referral to the clinic it had received two days of antibiotic treatment. Both heifers had a decreased clotting time in the glutaraldehyde test, increased activity of aspartate aminotransferase, and increased concentration of creatinine kinase (Table 1).On the basis of the clinical findings, a diagnosis of spinal cord disease was made in both animals. In heifer 1, multiple lesions were assumed to be located between Cl and C5 and S1 and S3, and a diffuse inflammatory process of unclear aetiology was suspected. In heifer 2, the lesions were assumed to be located between T3 and L3. Possible causes included a vertebral abscess, parasitism or trauma. Weaver syndrome was also considered as a differential diagnosis in heifer 2, but was ruled out on the basis of the heifer's lineage (Braun and others 2003a, b, c).At the clinic, heifer 1 was treated with intravenous glucose and saline solution and 1 1 mg/kg flunixin (Fluniximin; Berna) intravenously once daily. However, the heifer's condition rapidly deteriorated and it was euthanased one day after admission. Postmortem examination revealed a severe, suppurative, necrotic myelitis with microgranulomas and microabscesses in the cervical spinal cord (Fig 1) and t...

Rhombencephalitis Caused byListeria monocytogenesin Humans and Ruminants: A Zoonosis on the Rise?

“…In the terminal stage, animals become recumbent and may show convulsions. Rare cases have been described, in which limb paralysis occurred due to affection of the spinal cord alone (myelitis) without involvement of the brain [134, 163, 164]. The course of infection in small ruminants (sheep and goats) is generally acute and animals die within 1–3 days after clinical signs became apparent.…”

Differential diagnosis of neurological diseases of small ruminants

“…Σε παραλλαγή της νευρικής μορφής της νόσου, η οποία εκδηλώνεται σπάνια, προσβάλλεται μόνον ο νωτιαίος μυελός με παραπάρεση ή ημιπάρεση ή τετραπάρεση, ανάλογα με το σημείο, όπου εντοπί-ζεται η βλάβη (Schweizer et al 2004). Η οφθαλμική παραλλαγή της νευρικής μορφής της νόσου, χαρα-κτηρίζεται από έντονη κερατοεπιπεφυκίτιδα.…”

SAC C VS disease surveillance, June 2017

“…SAC C VS considered the character and distribution of these lesions to be consistent with spinal listeriosis with limited dissemination to the brain. Spinal listeriosis can present as outbreaks in sheep 4 and is uncommon in cattle 5 . Lumbar spinal cord was not examined so a link between the myelitis, failure of micturition and subsequent bladder rupture could not be confirmed.…”