Exam 1 - FA Diffuse Brain Disease Flashcards
what 8 diseases/conditions are on your differential list for diffuse intracranial signs?
- polioencephalomalacia
- lead toxicity
- rabies
- water deprivation/salt water toxicity
- nervous coccidiosis
- urea toxicosis
- bacterial meningitis
- thrombotic meningoencephalitis (TEME)
what are the 2 most common causes of polioencephalomalacia?
thiamine deficiency & excess sulfates in feed/water
what animals are primarily affected by the thiamine deficiency form of polioencephalomalacia?
young cattle, sheep, goats, antelope, & deer
typically on a high concentrate low roughage diet
what is the mechanism of the thiamine deficient polioencephalomalacia?
decreased activity of transketolase enzyme in RBCs which decreases utilization of glucose in the tissue
decreases ATP
decreases utilization of glucose by the brain
end result - intracellular edema of the brain
what are the 5 main factors causing thiamine deficiency?
disturbances in metabolism
decreased synthesis rate
increased excretion
thiamine antimetabolites
feeds - DDG, corn gluten, kocia, & turnips
how does molasses cause a decreased rate of thiamine synthesis?
decreases propionate (glucose precursor) production
what are some examples of processes that cause disturbances in thiamine metabolism?
low intake & increased demand
clostridium - thiaminase I
bacillus - thiaminase II (excessive grain intake)
what is the mechanism of high sulfates causing polioencephalomalacia?
too much sulfur in the diet that preferentially selects for one particular population of bacteria - sulfates are used for respiration & then the bacteria release H2S gas
the H2S gas inhibits cytochrome oxidase activity
what animals are predisposed to developing polioencephalomalacia as a result of high sulfates?
animals with high sulfates in their diet
what is the first stage of disease seen in polioencephalomalacia?
spastic, uncoordinated movement/convulsions when excited/may or may not be blind, & hyperesthesia
what is the second phase seen of polioencephalomalacia?
blind/opisthotonus/star gazing (4th CN)/circles/head press/diarrhea
what is the 3rd phase of polioencephalomalacia?
lateral recumbency/paddling/death/head tilt/nystagmus
what is the hallmark sign of polioencephalomalacia?
acute onset of CNS signs with cortical blindness (PLR intact) & small ruminants that ‘act funny’
what can you look at in the blood diagnostically for polioencephalomalacia?
transketolase activity - giving thiamine may help you diagnostically
what is the treatment for polioencephalomalacia caused by thiamine deficiency?
thiamine 10-15mg/kg QID IM/SQ on day 1
TID for 2 more days
BID fpr 2 days
SID for 2 days
IV needs to be given in 5% dextrose
what is the post-mortem diagnosis of polioencephalomalacia?
moist, swollen, yellow, cortical gyri, & cerebral coning
may fluoresce under UV light due to lipofuscin
what are some ways to prevent polioencephalomalacia caused by thiamine deficiency or high sulfates?
brewer’s yeast - extra thiamine source
increase roughage in diet - selects for favorable rumen bacteria
check sulfate levels in diet/water!!
when trying to diagnose polioencephalomalacia from excess sulfates, what should you do?
check water as a potential source!!!
on a herd basis - levels of sulfates can be measured chute side using a rumen gas cap test
what is the pathophysiology of lead toxicity?
lead binds to RBC & increase fragility of cells
this inhibits enzymes in heme synthesis
leads to poryphrin build up
inhibits the utilization of iron
what are common sources of lead toxicity?
BATTERIES!!
lead arsenate
grease/used motor oil/lead based paints
what is the most common presentation of lead toxicity?
encephalopathy
T/F: signs of acute lead toxicity should put rabies on your differential list
true
what are the acute clinical signs of lead toxicity?
12-24 hours to develop
CNS/GI
cortical blindness with intact PLR
rumen atony/dead protozoa
cerebral signs
seizures
what are the clinical signs of chronic lead toxicity?
normocytic normochromic anemia
basophilic stippling
weight loss
lead stored in bone
how is lead toxicity diagnosed in most acute cases?
in a purple top - whole blood lead is > or = to 0.35ppm
how is lead toxicity diagnosed in most chronic cases?
blood levels may be normal - assess blood ALA levels/poryphrins
most will have a normal hemogram, but you may see an inappropriately responsive anemia with basophilic stippling
what lesion would you expect to see on necropsy for an animal with suspected lead toxicity?
polioencephalomalacia
what is the treatment for lead toxicity?
oral magnesium sulfate!!
Ca disodium EDTA 6.6% solution - 73mg/kg IV SID for 5 days, rest for 2 days, then repeat
thiamine 5-10mg/kg SID - decreases lead deposition & counters lead inhibition of thiamine synthesis
rumenotomy
what is the cause of rabies?
rhabdovirus
what is the pathophysiology of rabies?
saliva contamination or CNS fluids enter through a break in skin
migrates up neurons to the CNS where it replicates & goes to the salivary glands & nasal secretion
what is the incubation period of rabies?
3 weeks to 3 months
what animals serve as reservoirs for rabies virus?
foxes, skunks, raccoons, & bats
what are the 3 forms of rabies?
furious
dumb
paralytic
what clinical signs are associated with the furious form of rabies?
tenesmus, hypersexuality, aggressive behavior, bellowing, paraphimosis, excitability, fear, & rage