Year 2014 - Volume 34, Number 5


Title
Suppurative intracranial processes in 15 domestic ruminants, 34(5):421-426
Authors

Abstract
ABSTRACT.- Câmara A.C.L., Vale A.M., Batista J.S., Feijó F.M.C. & Soto-Blanco B. 2014. Suppurative intracranial processes in 15 domestic ruminants. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 34(5):421-426. Hospital Veterinário, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Avenida Francisco Mota 572, BR-110 Km 47, Presidente Costa e Silva, Mossoró, RN 59625-900, Brazil. E-mail: aclcamara@yahoo.com.br

In addition to listeriosis which is relatively common in ruminants, there are three other uncommon suppurative intracranial processes (SIP) identifiable in adult ungulates as brain abscess, basilar empyema and suppurative meningitis. The present paper reports the epidemiological, clinical, laboratorial, pathological and microbiological findings of 15 domestic ruminants with SIP. A total of 15 animals were selected (eight sheep, four cattle and three goats); with the definitive diagnoses of basilar empyema (n=3), brain abscess (n=1), listeriosis (n=5) and suppurative meningitis (n=6). Hematology revealed leukocytosis with inversion of the lymphocyte/ neutrophil ratio in 4 cases. In the majority of animals, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) presented light yellow coloration and cloudy aspect due to neutrophilic pleocytosis (15 – 997 leukocytes/µL). Microbiological culture of CSF or central nervous system (CNS) fragments resulted on isolation of Trueperella (Arcanobacterium) pyogenes, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Stenotrophomonas sp. In a goat with thalamic abscess, microbiological assay was not performed, but Gram positive bacilli type bacteria were observed in histology. The diagnosis of these outbreaks was based on the association of epidemiological, clinical, pathological and bacteriological findings; reiterating that the infectious component remains an important cause of CNS disease in domestic ruminants and also shows the need for dissemination of information about the most effective preventive measures for the ranchers.
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