Neuro Images Flashcards
Name the outer fibrous layer on this brain.
Dura mater
What are these cells?
What do they line?
Ependymal cells
Line ventricles
What is this structure and what is it’s function?
Choroid plexus
Function: produces CSF within the ventricles
What type of cells are seen and what are their function?
Gitter cells (foamy cytoplasm)
Function: microglia that ingest myelin debris
This image shows chromatolysis.
What is chromatolysis?
Degenerative change; dispersal of nissl substance
What do the eosinophilic cells represent?
Neuronal necrosis
“Red is dead”
Name & describe the pathologic process in this image.
Neuronophagia
Migroglia surround necrotic neuron & phagocytose it to remove the debris
Name & describe this large cell shown here.
Spheroid
Focal axonal swelling filled with degenerate organelles - the first step to Wallerian degeneration
Name the pathologic process.
Name & describe the predominant cell type.
Astrocytosis
Gemistocytic astrocytes: plump, reactive astrocytes with eosinophilic cytoplasm
Name the pathologic process.
Name & describe the predominant cell type.
What are these cells typically seen with?
Astrocytosis
Alzheimer’s type II astrocytes: enlarged, vesicular nuclei
Typical of hepatic encephalopathy
Name the pathologic process.
Hydrocephalus
Name the pathologic process.
Hydrocephalus
Name the pathologic process.
Hydrocephalus
Name & describe the pathologic process (shown on right).
Microencephaly
Abnormally small brain
Name the pathologic process and which species this is considered “pathologic”.
Lissencephaly
Pathologic for any domestic mammal
Non-pathologic for some mammals & everything else that is not a mammal
Name & describe the pathologic process.
Prosencephalic hypoplasia (AKA cerebral aplasia)
Absence of the cerebral hemispheres with preservation of at least some portion of the brainstem
Name & describe the pathologic process.
Prosencephalic hypoplasia (AKA cerebral aplasia)
Absence of the cerebral hemispheres with preservation of at least some portion of the brainstem
Name & describe the pathologic processes.
Cranium bifidum & meningoencephalocele
Cranium bifidum: defect through which the brain/spinal cord and meninges can protrude; almost always on dorsal midline
Meningoencephalocele: herniation of meninges and brain/spinal cord
Name & describe the pathologic processes.
Cranium bifidum & meningoencephalocele
Cranium bifidum: defect through which the brain/spinal cord and meninges can protrude; almost always on dorsal midline
Meningoencephalocele: herniation of meninges and brain/spinal cord
Name & describe the pathologic processes.
Cranium bifidum & meningocele
Cranium bifidum: defect through which the brain/spinal cord and meninges can protrude; almost always on dorsal midline
Meningocele: herniation of meninges
Name & describe the pathologic processes.
Spina bifida & meningocele
Spina bifida: defect through which the brain/spinal cord and meninges can protrude; almost always on dorsal midline
Meningocele: herniation of meninges
Name & describe the pathologic process.
Spina bifida
Spina bifida: defect through which the brain/spinal cord and meninges can protrude; almost always on dorsal midline
Name & describe the pathologic process.
Hydranencephaly
Near complete or complete absence of the cerebral hemispheres,
leaving fluid-filled sacs formed by the meninges filled with CSF
Name & describe the pathologic process.
Porencephaly
Cystic cavitation of the brain, usually involving cerebral white matter
Name the pathologic process.
What 4 disease can this be seen with?
Cerebellar hypoplasia
BVDV (day 100-170 gestation), feline panleukopenia, border disease, classical swine fever
Name the pathologic process & inciting cause.
Cyclopia
Cause: ingestion of Veratrum californicum
Name the pathologic process.
What gross finding here suggests this?
Cerebral edema
Flattening of gyri/sulci
Name the pathologic process.
What gross finding here suggests this?
Cerebral edema
Cerebellar herniation
Name the pathologic process & inciting cause.
Which cells are most sensitive to these type of lesions?
Infarct
Cause: vascular occlusion (uncommon in domestic animals)
Most sensitive: oligodendroglia, neurona
This image shows a fibrocartilaginous emobolism.
Where is the fibrocartilaginous material thought originate from?
Describe clinical presentation.
Material thought to arise from nucleus pulposus of intervertebral disc
Clinical presentation: typically assymetric spinal cord signs, non-progressive after 24-48h
Name & describe the pathologic process.
What species does this affect?
What are some suspected underlying causes?
Polioencephalomalacia: necrosis of grey matter of the brain
Species: sheep, goats, cattle
Underlying causes: deficiency in thiamine, disturbance in thiamine metabolism, high sulfur intake or water deprivation
Name & describe the pathologic process.
What clinical signs are associated with this disease?
Polioencephalomalacia: necrosis of grey matter of the brain
Clinical signs: blindness, dullness, head pressing, anorexia, muscle tremors, opisthotonos, recumbency, bruxism, ptyalism, nystagmus, coma, death
Name & describe the pathologic process.
What species does this affect?
What are some suspected underlying causes?
Polioencephalomalacia: necrosis of grey matter of the brain
Species: sheep, goats, cattle
Underlying causes: deficiency in thiamine, disturbance in thiamine metabolism, high sulfur intake or water deprivation
Name & describe the pathologic process.
What clinical signs are associated with this disease?
Polioencephalomalacia: necrosis of grey matter of the brain
Clinical signs: blindness, dullness, head pressing, anorexia, muscle tremors, opisthotonos, recumbency, bruxism, ptyalism, nystagmus, coma, death
Name the etiology & species.
What are the associated clinical signs & lesions?
Thiamine deficiency in cats
Clinical signs: ataxia, neck ventroflexion, incoordination, mydriasis, convulsions
Lesions: hemorrhage, necrosis and neuropil vacuolation predominantly in periventricular grey matter
Name the etiology.
What are the associated clinical signs & lesions?
Salt poisoning
Clinical signs: blindness, deafness, head pressing, convulsions
Lesions: cerebral edema, laminar cortical necrosis, nonsuppurative and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis
Name & describe the pathologic process
Name the species & etiology.
What are the associated clinical signs?
Nigropallidal encephalomalacia: malacia in globus pallidus & substantia nigra
Species: horses
Etiology: ingestion of yellow star thistle (Centaurea solistitialis) & Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens)
Clinical signs: somnolence, incoordination of lips and tongue that leads to difficulty prehending food, persistent chewing motions; death often from starvation/dehydration
Name & describe the pathologic process.
Name the species & etiology.
Leukoencephalomalacia: necrosis of cerebral white matter
Species: horses
Etiology: moldy corn consumption >1mo. (fumonisin toxin produced from Fusarium verticilloides & F. proliferatum)
Clinical signs: circling, somnolence, visual impairment, weakness, pharyngeal paralysis; usually die 2-3 days after the onset of CS
Name & describe the pathologic process.
Name the species & etiology.
Leukoencephalomalacia: necrosis of cerebral white matter
Species: horses
Etiology: moldy corn consumption >1mo. (fumonisin toxin produced from Fusarium verticilloides & F. proliferatum)
Clinical signs: circling, somnolence, visual impairment, weakness, pharyngeal paralysis; usually die 2-3 days after the onset of CS
This image shows white matter edema.
This is a consequence of what pathologic process in dogs?
Lead poisoning
This image shows demyelination.
This is a consequence of what pathologic process in dogs?
Lead poisoning
Name the pathologic process, including the species & etiology.
What is this commonly secondary to in young animals?
Equine bacterial meningitis
Commonly secondary to septicemia in young animals
Name the pathologic process, including the species & etiology.
What is this commonly secondary to in young animals?
Equine bacterial meningitis
Commonly secondary to septicemia in young animals
Name the pathologic process, including the species & etiology.
What is this commonly secondary to in young animals?
Calf bacterial meningitis
Commonly secondary to septicemia in young animals
Name the pathologic process, including the species.
What was the underlying etiology in this case?
Pig purulent bacterial meningitis
Secondary to otitis media/interna
Name the pathologic process & most common locations.
Name the common agents for pig, cattle, & all species in general.
Abscesses from septic embolism (bacterial infection)
Most common locations: hypothalamus & junction of cerebral grey & white matter
Agents:
Pigs - E. rhusiopathiae
Cattle - T. pyogenes
All - Streptococcus
Name the pathologic process, species & most common locations.
Abscesses from septic embolism (bacterial infection) in a goat brain
Most common locations: hypothalamus & junction of cerebral grey & white matter
Name the pathologic process, species & most common locations.
Abscesses from septic embolism (bacterial infection) in a goat brain
Most common locations: hypothalamus & junction of cerebral grey & white matter
Name the pathologic process, etiology & most common pathogenesis.
Which species is most commonly affected?
Outbreaks are usually associated with what event?
Where are lesions most commonly located?
Listeriosis: Listeria monocytogenes
Pathogenesis: invade oral cavity, then ascend trigeminal nerve to brainstem
Species: most commonly ruminants
Outbreaks: heavy feeding of silage
Lesion location: brainstem
Name the pathologic process & etiology.
What species are affected?
Describe the pathophysiology.
Gross & histologic lesions?
Infectious thrombotic meningoencephalitis (ITME)
Etiology: Histophilus somni (normally in genital tract & nasal cavity)
Species: cattle (young in feedlots), sheep
Pathophysiology: septicemia → cerebral vasculitis with hemorrhage, necrosis and thrombosis
Gross lesions: RANDOM multifocal hemorrhage, necrosis
Histo lesions: vasculitis, thrombosis, infarction, neutrophilic meningoencephalitis, +/- abscesses
This image is typical of viral infections.
What are some general histological characteristics of viral infections?
Non-suppurative meningoencephalitis +/- myelitis
Perivascular cuffing (shown here)
Gliosis
+/- viral inclusions, neuronal degeneration/necrosis
This is bovine rabies.
Rabies has a predilection for which tissue?
Saliavary gland & CNS
This is bovine rabies.
Where are Negri bodies most oftening found in herbivores (shown here)?
Purkinje cells
This is canine rabies.
Where are Negri bodies most oftening found in carnivores?
Hippocampus
Name the etiology associated with this lesion.
“Mad itch”/dermatitis lesions associated with pseudorabies
This is a histological image of pseudorabies in a pig.
What histological findings are seen with pseudorabies?
Histo findings: nonsuppurative encephalitis, gliosis, neuronal degeneration, intranuclear inclusion bodies in neurons & astrocytes
Name the disease that causes these clinical findings.
What histologic lesions would you expect to see?
Clinical signs in kids vs adults?
Caprine encephalitis virus (CAEV)
Histo lesions: non-suppurative leukoencephalomyelitis (shown here), demyelination
CS kids: neuro signs if 2-4 m/o
CS adults: arthritis, mastitis, pneumonia
This image is typical presentation for what disease affecting sheep?
What histo lesions would you expect to see?
At what age do you expect to see the neurological form of the disease?
What are some other non-neurological clinical signs associated with this disease?
Maedi-Visna Virus (MVV)
Histo lesions: non-suppurative meningoencephalitis most severely affecting the white matter, demyelination
Neuro disease in sheep >2 y/o - hindlimb ataxia, trembling lips, progressing to hindlimb paralysis, death secondary to starvation/infection
Other CS: pneumonia, mastitis, arthritis
Name the disease that characteristically (although, rarely) causes hyperkeratinization.
Canine distemper vrius
This is a histological image from a dog with distemper virus.
What histo lesions are associated with this virus?
Histo: nonsuppurative encephalitis, gliosis, neuronal necrosis, intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusions primarily in astrocytes, white matter demyalination
Name the pathologic process shown here & specific etiology/disease.
What histo lesions would you expect to see?
Gross pathologic process: multifocal hemorrhage
Etiology/disease: viral → Equine Herpesviral Myeloencephalopathy
Histo lesions: non-suppurative necrotizing vasculitis & thrombosis
Name the organism shown.
What species does it affect?
Describe the pathophysiology (how it starts & reaches brain).
Cryptococcus neoformans
Species: cats, dogs, horses
Pathophysiology: begins as nasal/sinus infection → enters brain directly via cribiform plate OR pulmonary infection → hematogenous spread to brain
Name the specific disease.
What are the gross & histologic findings you would expect to see with this?
Cryptococcal encephalitis
Gross lesions: grey, gelatinous foci in brain and meninges
Histo lesions: variable inflammatory response — none to granulomatous inflammation; thick, non-staining mucopolysaccharide capsule which imparts a ‘soap-bubble’ appearance
Name the specific disease.
What are the gross & histologic findings you would expect to see with this?
Cryptococcal encephalitis
Gross lesions: grey, gelatinous foci in brain and meninges
Histo lesions: variable inflammatory response — none to granulomatous inflammation; thick, non-staining mucopolysaccharide capsule which imparts a ‘soap-bubble’ appearance
Name the specific disease.
From this image, what was likely the route of infection?
Cryptococcal rhinitis & encephalitis
Route of infection: nasal/sinus infection → cribiform plate → brain
Name the disease process & specific etiology.
What gross & histologic lesions would you expect to see?
Equine protozoal encephalomyelitis
Etiology: Sarcocystis neurona
Gross lesions: none or hemorrhage & necrosis (shown here)
Histo lesions: hemorrhage, necrosis, perivascular cuffs of lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils and eosinophils; astrocytosis
Name the disease process & specific etiology of these lesions.
Equine protozoal encephalomyelitis
Etiology: Sarcocystis neurona
These gross findings are consistent with what disease?
What is the specific etiology?
In what conditions (of the patient) is infection with this agent usually seen?
Toxoplasmosis
Etiology: Toxoplasma gondii
Infection often seen with immunosuppressive conditions
Name the organism & disease.
What other histologic findings would you expect in a dog?
Neospora canis
Neosporosis
Histo findings: mixed inflammatory (granulomatous and lymphoplasmacytic, occasionally with eosinophils) meningoencephalomyelitis, gliosis
Describe the lesion(s) present.
Name the two diseases associated with these gross findings.
What is the speculated etiology?
Bilateral, assymetrical lesions in cerebral cortex
Seen with necrotizing meningoencephilitis (NME) & leukoencephalitis (NLE)
Speculated etiology: autoimmune, but unknown
Name the category of disease & specific disease characterized by neuronal vacuolization.
How is this transmitted?
What are the associated histological lesions?
Spongiform diseases or TSEs
Scrapie (ovine spongiform encephalopathy)
Transmission: horizontal via consumption of infected feed material
Histo lesions: intracytoplasmic neuronal vacuolation, astrocytosis
Name & describe the pathology.
Meningioma
Tumor located on meningial surface of CNS - well-demarcated, encapsulated, expansile, grey-white to red-brown
Name & describe the pathology.
Meningioma
Tumor located on meningial surface of CNS - well-demarcated, encapsulated, expansile, grey-white to red-brown
Name & describe the pathology.
What lobes of the brain are most commonly affected?
Astrocytoma
Poorly-demarcated, firm, grey-white masses in white matter and grey matter
Most common lobes: pyriform & temporal
Name & describe the pathology.
What lobes of the brain are most commonly affected?
Astrocytoma
Poorly-demarcated, firm, grey-white masses in white matter and grey matter
Most common lobes: pyriform & temporal
Name & describe the pathology.
Oligodendroglioma
Grey to pink-red, soft to gelatinous mass in white matter or grey matter of cerebrum & brainstem
Name & describe the pathology.
Oligodendroglioma
Grey to pink-red, soft to gelatinous mass in white matter or grey matter of cerebrum & brainstem
Name the pathology.
Metastatic hemangiosarcoma
Name the pathology.
Metastatic melanoma
This is tissue from an ox.
Name the pathology.
Cerebellar asplasia/hypoplasia
This is tissue from a dog.
Name the pathologies present.
Cerebellar hypoplasia AND lissencephaly
This is tissue from a dog.
Name the pathology.
Oligodendroglioma (usually one)
vs. cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (usually multifocal)
This is tissue from an ox.
Name the pathology.
Listeriosis (brainstem lesion!)
This is tissue from an ox.
Name the pathology.
Suppurative meningitis
(grey/tan obscuring vessels)
This is tissue from a dog.
Name the pathology.
Choroid plexus carcinoma
This is tissue from a dog.
Name the pathology.
Hydrocephalus
This is tissue from an ox.
Name the pathology.
Hydromyelia
This is tissue from a horse.
Name the pathology.
Leukoencephalomalacia
(white matter affected)
This is tissue from a cat.
Name the pathology.
Cerebellar herniation
(cerebellum past the point of foramen magnum)
This is tissue from a cat.
Name the pathology.
Meningioma
(attached to dura, causing cerebellar compression)
This is tissue from a pig.
Name the pathology.
Meningocele
This is tissue from a horse.
Name the pathology.
Hydranencephaly
(no cerebrum, sac of meninges filled with CSF)
This is tissue from a horse.
Name the pathology.
Thoracic vertebral compression fracture with compression of spinal cord
This is tissue from an ox (brain is fixed).
Name the pathology (disease & etiology).
Infectious thrombotic meningoencephalitis (ITME)
Etiology: Histophilus somni
(lesions should be red)
This is tissue from an ox.
Name the pathology.
Polioencephalomalacia
(lesions in grey matter)
This is tissue from a dog.
Name the pathology.
Subdural hematoma
This is tissue from a deer.
Name the pathology.
Brain abscess (technically, encephalitis too)
