Internal hydrocephalus and associated periventricular encephalitis in a young fox

Canine distemper virus and canine adenovirus type 1 co-infection in a free-living hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus) from Brazil

The present case is the first description of a co-infection with canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine adenovirus type 1 (CAdV-1) in a free-living hoary fox pup from Brazil. The animal was found and rescued with poor body condition, dehydration, incoordination, ataxia, excessive vocalization, and "blue eyes" phenomenon. Despite the efforts, euthanasia was elected due to worsening clinical signs and poor prognosis. Pathologic examination revealed a mild, acute, random, necrotizing hepatitis, acute bronchopneumonia, hydrocephalus, corneal edema with epithelium degeneration, and acidophilic intracytoplasmatic inclusion bodies in different epithelial cells types with rare syncytial. Through immunohistochemistry, CDV antigen was observed in the tongue, trachea, lungs, liver, spleen, stomach, intestine and urinary bladder. Adenovirus antigen was identified in the nucleus of scattered hepatocytes. Polymerase chain reaction and sequencing demonstrated high similarity with CAdV-1 and wild-type strain of CDV close related to Brazilian viral lineages isolated from domestic dogs. Disease surveillance in wildlife animals is essential to assess possible conservation threats and consider the implementation of mitigation or control measures.

Severe hydrocephalus in a raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Hydrocephalus is one of the most common central nervous system malformations in domestic dogs, yet they are poorly documented and studied in wild carnivoran mammals. A pup of raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) was rescued and brought to Wildlife Center. The pup showed generalized ataxia, a domed skull, and an open bregmatic fontanelle. Ultrasound and MRI showed severe enlargement of the lateral ventricle with the loss of septum pellucidum resulting in a single large ventricle and cervical syringohydromyelia. Although treatment was attempted, the animal was euthanized due to poor prognosis. At necropsy, macroscopic findings were identical to the diagnostic imaging, where marked enlargement of the calvarium, and attenuated gyri and sulci were observed. Finally, hydrocephalus was confirmed. Here, we describe a case of hydrocephalus in a raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides).

Porencephaly and Periventricular Encephalitis in a 4-month-old Puppy: Detection of Canine Parvovirus Type 2 and Potential Role in Brain Lesions

A 4-month-old puppy died after showing intracranial signs a few days after a suspected viral enteritis. Grossly, the right cerebral hemisphere had a large irregular cavity external to the internal capsule. Histopathological examination revealed a cystic lesion in the right hemisphere and non-suppurative inflammation of the diencephalon and periaqueductal nervous tissue. Porencephaly associated with periventricular non-suppurative encephalitis was diagnosed. A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identified the presence of parvovirus DNA in the brain and real-time PCR typed this as canine parvovirus (CPV) type 2a. Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of CPV antigen in the cytoplasm of scattered cells in the subependymal layers and choroid plexus epithelium. The porencephaly was not associated with inflammatory lesions or CPV antigen and was considered to have preceded the neurological signs. In contrast, the detection of CPV antigen in the subependymal layers and choroid plexus epithelium supported the association of this virus with the periventricular encephalitis.

HYDROCEPHALUS IN THREE JUVENILE NORTH AMERICAN BLACK BEARS (URSUS AMERICANUS)

Hydrocephalus has been reported in a variety of species, including the North American black bear ( Ursus americanus ). This report describes three cases of hydrocephalus in this species from wild bears aged 3-4 mo considered retrospectively from necropsy records of one institution. Clinical signs included cortical blindness and ataxia. Primary gross findings were doming of the skull, gyri compression and flattening, and lateral ventricle dilation. Two cases had severe bilateral ventricular dilation with loss of the septum pellucidum; atrophy of the surrounding corpus callosum; and bilateral periventricular tears involving the caudate nuclei, internal capsule, and adjacent cerebrum. Histologically, the cases with periventricular tearing had severe axonal loss and degeneration, malacia, hemorrhage, and variable periventricular astrocytosis. All cases were likely congenital, given the bears' age and lack of an apparent acquired obstruction.