Parasitic Diseases of the Brain, Spinal Cord, and Eyes Flashcards
describe neospora caninum (3)
- tissue cyst forming coccidian with worldwide distribution
- indirect life cycle:
-DH: canids, sexual stage in intestinal epithelium
-IH: most mammals (cattle, ungulates), asexual stage in tissue-cysts - NOT zoonotic
describe clinical presentation of neospora caninum (3)
- infectious inflammatory myopathy in dogs
- if adults develop disease (neuromuscular): muscle atrophy, rigid hyperextension, paralysis, head tilt, gait abnormality, dysphagia, seizure, cerebellar atophy
- congenital disease in puppies: myositis and polyradiculitis of lumbosacral spinal nerve roots
-ascending paralysis, muscle atrophy, fibrous muscle contracture with joint contracture, hyperextension of the pelvic limbs
(abortion in cows, rigid paralysis in puppies)
describe diagnosis, prevention and treatment of neospora caninum
diagnosis:
-serology, ID, or PCR in biopsy, aspirate, CSF, blood
-finding an oocyst in the feces often not enough bc looks like a lot of other guys, often PCR is necessary
prevention: no raw meat diets!
-cattle: cull or bulk milk test
treatment: +/- sulfa drugs
describe sarcocystis neurona (3)
- tissue forming coccidian and causative agent of EPM
-+/- neospora hughesi: may also cause EPM - indirect life cycle:
-DH: opossum, sexual stage in intestinal epithelium
-IH: variety of mammals, asexual stage in tissue cysts
-Aberrant/dead-end host: horses - not zoonotic?
describe clinical presentation of sarcocystis neurona in horses (EPM)
3 As!
- asymmetry
- atrophy: rump and face (frequently can’t eat due to facial muscle atrophy)
- ataxia: most frequent sign is gait abnormality related to CNS disease
describe diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of EPM
high seroprevalence but low clinical disease in horse population!!
-80-90% horses seropositive
-<1% develop neurologic disease
diagnosis:
SAG 4/3/2 on serum AND CSF
-serum:CSF ratio <100 suggests EPM
treatment:
1. antiprotozoals:
-ponazuril (Marquis): treat for at least 1 month
2. anti-inflammatory therapy
3. neuro-supportive therapy
prevention: keep possums out!!
describe toxoplasma gondii (3)
- ZOONOTIC, tissue cyst forming coccidian with worldwide distribution
- indirect life cycle:
-DH: felids only; asexual and sexual reproduction in enterocytes (ONLY CATS SHED OOCYSTS)
-IH: SO MANY
-all IH can have tissue stages; we get toxo from ingesting tissue stages - major cause of abortion in small ruminants, significant morbidity in marsupials, and ocular disease in humans
-congenitally infected kittens can be clinical
describe the life cycleS of toxoplasma gondii
- direct: cat to cat
-transplacental, or ingesting sporulated oocysts from environment - facultative indirect life cycle:
-cat to paratenic host
-paratenic host to cat - paratenic host to paratenic host
all these life cycles plus lack of host specificity is why so successful and widespread
describe toxoplasma gondii in cats (clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and control)
clinical signs:
1. intestinal/acute disease: usually no complaint
-10-20% of cats develop self-limiting small bowel diarrhea
2. systemic disease (non-specific):
-pneumonia (esp FIV+ cats)
-fever, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, myositis, uveitis, enlarged lymph nodes, encephalitis, nephritis, death
diagnosis:
1. intestinal/acute disease: oocysts in feces (fecal float centrifugation)
-but only shed for 2 weeks!!
2. systemic disease: serologic tests (IgG and IgM antibodies)
3. definitive: detection of tachyzoites in effusions, tissue aspirates, or biopsy samples
treatment:
1. intestinal/acute disease (shedding oocysts): pyrimethamine plus triple sulfa drugs, clindamycin, or ponazuril
-hospitalize cat during oocyst shedding to reduce zoonosis
2. systemic disease (clinically ill): clindamycin for at least 4 weeks, supportive treatment depending on clinical signs
control:
1. clean litter box daily: environmental sporulation in 1-3 days
-pregnant women no touch litter box!
2. no raw meat
3. don’t let cats outside to defecate or hunt
describe toxoplasma gondii in dogs (4)
- systemix toxoplasmacosis
- less commonly develop clinical disease
- fever, neurological, ocular, or respiratory signs
- rule out neospora caninum infection
describe toxoplasma gondii in sheep and goats (4)
- systemic and congenital toxoplasmosis
- systemic: CNS signs (circling, etc.)
- congenital: abortion
- toxovac S48 live vaccine available!
describe toxoplasma gondii in cattle and horses
very rarely develop clinical disease!
describe toxoplasma gondii in rodents (3)
- systemic toxoplasmosis
- decreased fear of cats
- major source of infection for cats and pigs
describe toxoplasma gondii in swine (4)
- systemic toxoplasmosis
- fever and respiratory signs
- highly prevalent in free range pigs
- important sources of human infections!!
describe toxoplasma gondii in poultry (3)
- systemic toxoplasmosis
- prevalent in free-range and backyard chickens
- important source of infection for humans!!