Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from 20 calves after storage for 24 hours

Effect of time and autologous serum addition on the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid in horses

BACKGROUND

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is highly labile and delayed processing might alter results of analysis.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES

To determine the effects of time and addition of autologous serum on cytological evaluation of CSF.

ANIMALS

Ten client-owned adult horses requiring euthanasia.

METHODS

Prospective study. Serum and CSF were collected from each horse before and within 10 minutes after euthanasia. CSF samples were divided into 15 aliquots (2 mL each); 1 aliquot was submitted for routine CSF analysis within 60 minutes of collection. Four drops of autologous serum were added to 7 of the aliquots, and stored at 4°C (serum group); the remaining 7 samples were stored unaltered at 4°C (control group). Total nucleated cell count (TNCC) and cell morphology score were done at T4, T8, T12, T24, T48, T72, and T96 hours after collection. Protein concentration was measured in the control group at T0 and T96 hours.

RESULTS

The cell morphology scores were significantly different in the control group at T48 (median 2, range 0-4), T72 (2, 0-4), and T96 (3, 0-4) in comparison to T0 (1). No change was observed in the serum group. TNCC remained stable over time in both groups. No statistically significant difference in CSF protein concentration was found between T0 and T96.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

The addition of autologous serum to an aliquot of CSF sample before shipping improves the preservation of cell morphology up to 96 hours after collection.

Evaluation of the hydroxyethyl starch stabilizing agent, Vetstarch, in the preservation of canine cerebrospinal fluid samples

BACKGROUND

A challenge of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is the time-dependent degradation of nucleated cells, impeding accurate interpretation. CSF additives have been used to delay cell degradation; however, stabilizing agents, including serum, can alter microprotein levels.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine if the hydroxyethyl starch, Vetstarch, is effective at preserving nucleated cell morphology in CSF compared with the saline diluent or serum without altering microprotein levels.

METHODS

CSF samples were collected from 26 dogs. Samples were divided into four aliquots. One aliquot was analyzed immediately (control). The remaining three aliquots were mixed with either saline, fetal calf serum, or Vetstarch before storage at 4°C. Nucleated cell differentials, protein concentrations, and cell morphology scores were analyzed 48 hours later. A cell morphology score of 1 indicated no cellular degeneration; a score of 4 indicated severe degeneration.

RESULTS

Samples stored in serum, saline, and Vetstarch exhibited poorer mean (±SD) morphology scores (2.4 ± 0.7, 2.6 ± 0.8, and 2.7 ± 0.9, respectively) compared with controls (1.9 ± 0.4). Samples stored in saline and Vetstarch demonstrated higher percentages of unrecognizable cells, with a median of 28 (range 0-100) and 27 (0-100), respectively; samples stored in serum had a median of 14 (range 0-67) unrecognizable. Microprotein levels of samples stored in Vetstarch were dependent on the method of protein analysis. Serum significantly increased microprotein levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Vetstarch does not reduce time-dependent cellular degeneration compared with the saline diluent or serum and is, therefore, not recommended as a stabilizing agent for canine cerebrospinal fluid.

Survival associated with cerebrospinal fluid analysis in downer adult dairy cows: A retrospective study (2006-2014)

Background

Threshold values for total nucleated cell count (TNCC) and protein concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of downer dairy cows suggestive of a spinal cord lesion were recently published.

Objectives

Determine short‐ and long‐term survival of downer cows that underwent CSF analysis using the reported threshold values. Evaluate the prognostic value of these threshold values to predict short‐ and long‐term survival.

Animals

Two hundred and fourteen downer adult dairy cows that underwent CSF analysis during hospitalization at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire (CHUV) of the Université de Montréal.

Methods

Retrospective study. Medical records of downer adult dairy cows presented to the hospital between January 2006 and October 2014 for which CSF analysis results were available were studied. Short‐term (discharge from hospital) and long‐term (completion of lactation) survival were determined and compared in accordance with CSF TNCC and protein concentration, using a Chi‐square test.

Results

Cows with CSF TNCC and/or protein concentration above the threshold values had a significantly lower short‐term survival rate (P = .02). The odds of nonsurvival of cows with one or both CSF values above the threshold values was 2.16 times higher than the odds for cows with values under the threshold values. CSF TNCC >4.5 cells/μL had sensitivity and specificity of 17.3% (95% CI: 10.7%‐25.7%) and 92.3% (95% CI: 85.4%‐96.6%), respectively, for predicting short‐term nonsurvival. CSF protein concentration >0.39 g/L had sensitivity and specificity of 20.9% (95% CI: 13.7%‐29.7%) and 91.4% (95% CI: 84.2%‐96.0%), respectively.

Conclusions

CSF analysis above threshold values used in this study is associated with increased odds of short‐term nonsurvival.

Parâmetros citológicos e bioquímicos do líquido cefalorraquidiano coletado de bovinos sadios em dois momentos, com intervalo de 96 horas

RESUMO A análise do líquido cefalorraquidiano (LCR) é uma importante ferramenta no diagnóstico das doenças neurológicas dos bovinos. A coleta do LCR em diferentes momentos facilita o monitoramento do quadro clínico e/ou a avaliação da eficácia de tratamentos estabelecidos. Todavia, os efeitos de coletas consecutivas sobre os parâmetros citológicos e bioquímicos do LCR de bovinos saudáveis ainda não foram analisados. Dessa forma, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar potenciais diferenças citológicas e bioquímicas no LCR de bovinos sadios, obtidos em dois momentos, com intervalo de 96 horas. O LCR foi submetido à análise citológica e à determinação do teor de proteína total. Na segunda coleta, verificou-se aumento significativo da celularidade, porém ainda dentro do intervalo de referência para a espécie, diminuição de linfócitos e elevação de células mononucleares em relação à primeira coleta. No entanto, os números de hemácias (/µL), células nucleadas (/µL), neutrófilos (%), eosinófilos (%) e a concentração da proteína total (mg/dL) continuaram dentro dos valores de referência 96 horas após a realização da primeira punção. Conclui-se que os procedimentos de coleta de LCR consecutivos não provocaram inflamação local detectável 96 horas após a primeira punção, o que sugere que, quando necessário, coletas de LCR seriadas, por si só, não interfeririam nos resultados do exame.

Clinical-pathological findings of otitis media and media-interna in calves and (clinical) evaluation of a standardized therapeutic protocol

Background

The aims of this field trial were to describe the clinical-pathologic findings in calves with otitis media (OM) and media-interna (OMI), to evaluate, through the development of a scoring system, the effectiveness of a standardized therapeutic protocol, and to identify the causative pathogens and their possible correlation with concurrent respiratory disease. All animals underwent physical and neurological examinations at three experimental time points: at diagnosis/beginning of treatment (T0), 1 week (T1) and 2 weeks (T2) after therapy was started, respectively. Follow-up telephone interviews with animal owners were conducted 1 month later. The therapeutic protocol consisted of tulathromycin (Draxxin®; Zoetis), oxytetracycline hydrochloride (Terramicina 100®; Zoetis), and carprofen (Rimadyl®; Zoetis).

Results

Twenty-two calves were enrolled. Physical and otoscopic examination at T0 revealed monolateral and bilateral otorrhea in 16 and 6 calves, respectively, with peripheral vestibular system involvement in calves presenting with neurological signs (n = 17; 77 %). A significant improvement of clinical and neurological scores was observed in 20 (90 %) calves, a full recovery in only 1 (5 %). One calf worsened between T0 and T1 and it was removed from the study. None of the other animals showed a worsening of clinical conditions and/or required further treatments at one month follow up. Mycoplasma bovis was isolated in 89 % of the affected ears either alone or together with P. multocida (n = 5), Streptococcus spp. (n = 1), Staphylococcus spp. (n = 1), and Pseudomonas spp. (n = 1). M. bovis either alone or together with these bacteria was also isolated from the upper and/or lower respiratory tract in 19 (86 %) calves.

Conclusions

This is the first prospective study to evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized therapeutic protocol for the treatment of OM/OMI in calves. The therapy led to clinical improvement in the majority of the calves. Persistence of mild clinical-neurological signs did not compromise productive performance. The numerical scoring system for clinical and neurological signs permitted objective evaluation of response to therapy. M. bovis was the pathogen most often isolated. This finding should be considered in the treatment of OM/OMI in calves. Moreover, respiratory tract infection should not be underrated, since it is one of the major risk factors for the development of OM/OMI.

Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from cattle with central nervous system disorders after storage for 24 hours with autologous serum

BACKGROUND

We compared the changes in cell morphology, total and differential cell counts between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples analyzed within an hour of collection (fresh sample) and after the addition of autologous serum and storage for 24 h (stored sample) in 27 cattle with central nervous system disorders.

RESULTS

There was a positive linear correlation between total and differential cell counts in the fresh and the stored samples. Cell morphology was preserved in all stored samples, except for increased vacuolization of mononuclear cells and cleaved nuclei of some small mononuclear cells. In the stored CSF samples, the total nucleated cell count and monocyte percentage were decreased (P = 0.01; P = 0.03), while the lymphocyte percentage was increased (P = 0.04). Mononuclear pleocytosis diagnosed in 20 fresh samples was cytologically confirmed in 12 of the 20 stored samples. In the remaining eight stored samples, the number of total nucleated cells was within the normal range. Neutrophilic pleocytosis was confirmed in all seven stored samples. The overall agreement rate between cytologic interpretation of the fresh and the stored CSF samples was 70 % (100 % for neutrophilic pleocytosis and 60 % for mononuclear pleocytosis).

CONCLUSIONS

Adding 11 % of autologous serum to CSF samples might allow delayed analysis with a good agreement rate for CSF cytological interpretation. Caution is nonetheless warranted, as animal age, anamnesis, and neurological presentation need to be considered when interpreting stored CSF without pleocytosis.

Seizure disorders in 43 cattle

Background

Large animals have a relatively high seizure threshold, and in most cases seizures are acquired. No published case series have described this syndrome in cattle.

Objectives

To describe clinical findings and outcomes in cattle referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Turin (Italy) because of seizures.

Animals

Client‐owned cattle with documented evidence of seizures.

Methods

Medical records of cattle with episodes of seizures reported between January 2002 and February 2014 were reviewed. Evidence of seizures was identified based on the evaluation of seizure episodes by the referring veterinarian or 1 of the authors. Animals were recruited if physical and neurologic examinations were performed and if diagnostic laboratory test results were available.

Results

Forty‐three of 49 cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 8 months. Thirty‐one animals were male and 12 were female. Piedmontese breed accounted for 39/43 (91%) animals. Seizures were etiologically classified as reactive in 30 patients (70%) and secondary or structural in 13 (30%). Thirty‐six animals survived, 2 died naturally, and 5 were euthanized for reasons of animal welfare. The definitive cause of reactive seizures was diagnosed as hypomagnesemia (n = 2), hypocalcemia (n = 12), and hypomagnesemia‐hypocalcemia (n = 16). The cause of structural seizures was diagnosed as cerebrocortical necrosis (n = 8), inflammatory diseases (n = 4), and lead (Pb) intoxication (n = 1).

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

The study results indicate that seizures largely are reported in beef cattle and that the cause can be identified and successfully treated in most cases.

Neuropathology and diagnostics in food animals

Diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) are relatively common in food animals. Potential causes include infectious agents, nutritional deficiencies, metabolic disorders, genetic defects, toxins, and idiopathic causes. Determining the correct etiologic diagnosis often depends on a thorough postmortem examination and collection of samples. This article reviews some of the steps and procedures necessary to collect the necessary information on CNS diseases in food animals. Techniques for the examination of the CNS are briefly described, and some of the gross pathology likely to be encountered in a food animal practice is reviewed.