Neurological manifestations of systemic disease Flashcards
What may you seen on bloods of an FIP cat?
usually reveals a normocytic, normochromic, nonregenerative anemia, leukocytosis consisting of a neutrophilia, and lymphopenia.
Approximately 50% of cats with the effusive form and 70% of cats with the dry form have increased serum proteins, primarily comprising a hyperglobulinemia. Protein electrophoresis discloses a polyclonal gammopathy, mainly involving the γ-globulins.
Other biochemical changes may be observed depending on the severity of involvement of other organ systems including abnormal liver enzyme, bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels
What would CSF analysis look like for an FIP ca?t
often reveals increased protein content (50–350 mg/dl) with a pleocytosis consisting of neutrophils, lymphocytes and macrophages
What are the typical signs of acute toxoplasmosis?
typically affects younger cats. The most common clinical signs are anorexia, lethargy, fever, dyspnea
and sudden death.
What are the typical signs of chronic toxoplasmosis?
typically affects older cats and manifests over weeks to months. Signs are similar to acute infection and may include vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, weight loss, fever and icterus.
Clinical signs reflecting organ involvement include lymphadenopathy, myocardial disease, pancreatitis, hepatitis, anterior uveitis and chorioretinitis
What are the typical neurological signs of toxoplasmosis?
Central nervous system involvement occurs in almost all
clinically affected cats. Neurological signs typically reflect a multifocal distribution and include hypothermia, behavioral changes, seizures, ataxia, blindness, anisocoria, torticollis, vestibular disease, muscle hyperesthesia, and paresis/paralysis.
Central nervous system signs may or may not occur in conjunction with systemic disease. Occasionally, cats may present with signs consistent with focal disease such as seizures or paralysis related to spinal cord disease
What may you see on thoracic rads with toxoplasma?
Thoracic radiographs may show a diffuse interstitial to bronchial pattern in which infiltrate may coalesce into areas of patchy alveolar patterns
How is serology used for diagnosis of toxoplasma?
an IgM response is detected in 1–3 weeks and an IgG response in 2–4 weeks.
Immunoglobulin M responses peak within 3 weeks and persist for 3–16 weeks.
In cats co-infected with FIV, there is a delayed conversion from an IgM to an IgG response.
IgM response does not necessarily correlate with active disease as occasionally IgM responses can be detected in clinically normal cats with chronic infection.
Likewise, a single high IgG response does not predict active disease, as IgG responses can last up to 6 years.
A rising titer is strongly suggestive of active disease, however, and maximal titers are reached within 2–3 weeks
What is the prognosis for toxoplasma infections of the CNS?
poor for cats displaying neurological signs or severe respiratory disease as most will succumb to
the disease.
Despite this, cats with focal CNS toxoplasmosis may achieve long term remission
What are the possible neurological signs of hypertension?
typically reflect intracranial disease.
Seizures, changes in mentation (obtundation, stupor or coma), and vestibular dysfunction (head tilt, vestibular ataxia and abnormal nystagmus) are the most common neurological signs
Other neurological signs associated with hypertension include blindness, weakness, ataxia, behavioral changes, tremors, sudden collapse, flexion of the neck, episodes of dragging the pelvic limb(s), and decorticate posture of the thoracic limbs
What are the common neuro signs of hepatic encephalopathy?
typically comprise abnormal behavior, abnormal mentation and seizures.
Affected cats may display aggression. Other abnormal behaviors include aimless pacing and wandering, head pressing and collapse. Cats may appear obtunded. Constant or episodic blindness may also be observed
