Neurological disease Flashcards
1
Q
Clinical signs in small mammals
A
- head tilt
- weakness
- paresis
- swaying
- ataxia
- tremor
- seizures
- circling
- exopthalmos
- ocular discharge
- mydriasis
- nystagmus
- urinary incontinence
- loss of anal tone
- faecal impaction
2
Q
Clinical signs in reptiles
A
- loss of righting reflex
- loss of withdrawal reflexes
- loss of cloaca tone
- limb paresis (hind most common)
- reduced grip (snakes)
- generalised or localised weakness
- tremors and convulsions
- blindness
- circling
- head tilt
3
Q
Clinical signs in birds
A
- loss of withdrawal reflexes
- loss of cloacal tone
- limb paresis
- reduced foot grip
- generalised weakness
- tremors and convulsions
- circling
- head tilt
4
Q
Differentials in small mammals
A
- viruses e.g. herpes virus (encephalitis)
- fungal e.g. encephalitozoon cuniculi
- bacterial e.g. bacterial otitis media/interna. spinal abscess
- parasitic e.g. toxoplasmosis
- degenerative e.g. spondylosis, OA, intervertebral disc protrusion
- trauma e.g. vertebral fracture/luxation
- husbandry e.g. hypovitaminosis A, heat stroke
- toxicity e.g. antibiotic (aminoglycosides), lead, Fipronil, Pyrethrin/permethrin
- metabolic e.g. azotaemia, electrolyte imbalance, pregnancy toxaemia, hypocalcaemia
- other e.g. neoplasia, rat pituitary glad adenoma, peripheral and central vestibular dz, cerebrovascular accident, splay leg, hypoxia, idiopathic epilepsy
5
Q
2 types of vestibular disease
A
- central
- peripheral
6
Q
Central vestibular dz signs
A
- nystagmus (vertical or horizontal)
- no Horner’s of facial nerve paralysis
- can show other CNS signs
7
Q
Peripheral vestibular dz signs
A
- nystagmus (horizontal, fast away from lesion)
- can show Horner’s or facial nerve paralysis
- doesn’t show any other CNS signs
8
Q
Ddx for central vestibular dz
A
- E.cuniculi
- toxoplasma
- neoplasia
9
Q
Ddx for peripheral vestibular dz
A
- otitis media (e.g. Pasteurella or S.aureus)
10
Q
Otitis media
A
- lop rabbits predisposed
- inner ear infection
- infection penetrates through the tympanic membrane, progression from otitis externa
- causes ataxia, circling, head tilt
- prey animals so hide the pain of otitis externa
- ear anatomy and lack of ventilation in lop eared breeds predisposed to this, often an incidental finding
- when the inner ear is infected is when you start to see clinical signs of neurological dz
11
Q
Aural base abscess
A
- lop rabbits are predisposed
- always palpate and look inside rabbit ears with a scope
- palpate between the base of the ear and the eye
- crud and debris builds up in the aural base pouch
- it can extend which is painful and you get a big swelling that looks like an abscess
- if not infected it can be pushed gently back up, if left it will get infected
12
Q
Encephalitozoon Cuniculus
A
- fungi spread in rabbit urine mostly, so kidney dz the first thing that happens
- over 50% healthy rabbits are carriers
- clinical signs are due to inflammation (due to the body’s response to the fungi and killing the healthy tissue around it)
13
Q
Clinical signs of E.cuniculi
A
- CNS damage: hindlimb paralysis/weakness, torticollis (head tilt), urinary incontinence, tremors
- kidney damage: PUPD, weight loss, anorexia, cataracts and uveitis
14
Q
Pathogenesis/pathway of E.cuniculi
A
- pathogen ingested in contaminated food and water
- pathogen moves via the blood stream into the kidneys
- pathogen intermittently passed in urine
- pathogen then moves into the spine -> hindlimb paresis
- pathogen then moves up the spine to the brain -> head tilt
15
Q
Floppy bunny syndrome
A
- generalised flaccid paralysis BUT the rabbit is often still very alert with a good appetite
- exact cause unknown
- majority of rabbits recover within 3-4d with supportive care
- why if presented with a generalised flaccid paralysis it could be worth waiting a few days to see if it is this
16
Q
Rabbit Fipronil toxicity
A
- Fipronil products such as Frontline spot on for cats and dogs
- Fipronil blocks GABA receptors in the CNS -> stops chloride ion uptake -> excessive CNS stimulation -> death
- clinical signs: seizures, tremors, hyperactivity, D+, hyper salivation, hypothermia, death
- delay in seizures -> seen 3-9d after exposure
17
Q
Differentials in reptiles
A
- viruses e.g. IBD, ophidian paramyxovirus, adenovirus
- fungal e.g. cryptococcus neoformans
- bacterial e.g. bacterial meningoencephalitis, spinal osteoarthropathy
- parasitic e.g. acanthamoebic meningoencephalitis
- degenerative e.g. OA
- trauma e.g. spinal fractures or compression
- husbandry e.g. exposure to freezing temperatures, thiamine deficiency, vit B deficiency, hypocalcaemia, MBD causing spinal fractures
- toxicity e.g. organophosphate toxicity, cedar shavings, drug reaction (ivermectin, metronidazole)
- metabolic e.g. gout due to kidney dz
- other e.g. SOL (egg binding, bladder stones)
18
Q
Inclusion Body Disease neurological signs
A
- head tremor
- uneven pupils
- muscle spasms (head can arc backward aka stargazing)
- lethargy
- reduced mental activity
- poor righting reflex
- reduce muscle tone
- constipation
19
Q
Adenovirus neurological signs
A
- stargazing
- twitching/seizures
- ‘poor doer’
- secondary infections (e.g. resp)
20
Q
Ophidian paramyxovirus
A
- virus has very similar neurological signs to IBD
- but unlike IBD, it causes mainly resp signs not GI signs
