Session 20 - Neurology IV Flashcards
What is the most common route for neurologic infections?
Hematogenous
What pathogens get to the brain via the nerves?
Rabies + Listeria monocytogenes + Herpes
What is the method by which these viruses infect the brain?
Retrograde axonal transport
What is a major characteristic of retrograde axonal transport?
Signs appear faster the closer the point of inoculation is to the head
What are the two types of inflammation that can occur within the nervous system?
Suppurative vs. Non-suppurative
What can be seen with some viruses?
Viral inclusions within the cell
Term: Inflammation of the brain
Encephalitis
Term: Inflammation of the meninges
Meningitis
Term: Inflammation of the spinal cord
Myelitis
Term: Inflammation of all three regions of the CNS
Meningoencephalomyelitis
What are some gross features of meningoenchapalitis?
Flattening of gyri + loss of sulci = swelling
Hyperemia of blood vessels = inflammation
Clouding of meninges = Infiltrates
Multifocal hemorrhages
What is listeriosis caused by?
Listeria monocytogenes
What is three major consequences of listeriosis?
Abortion/Still birth
Septicemia
Meningoencephalitis
How does listeria get access to the brain?
oral cavity by following peripheral nerves to the midbrain
What does listeria have an affinity for within the brain?
Brainstem + Cerebellum
What should be sent in if listeria is the suspected pathogen?
Brainstem
What lesions will be seen with listeria?
Multifocal microabscesses containing neutrophils + microglia
Small number of mononuclear cells
What does histophilus somni cause?
Thromboembolic meningoencephalitis
What gross lesions are seen with a histophilus somni infection?
Fibrionpurulent serositis
Arthritis
Synovitis
Hemorrhagic infarcts
Where are hemorrhagic infarcts seen in histophilus somi?
Spinal cord
Brain
Muscle
What brain lesions are seen with histophilus somni?
Swelling = flattening of gyri Vessels contain septic fibrin thrombi Vascular necrosis Neutrophilic vasculitis Local ischemia = brain parenchyma pale
What are two common viral mechanisms?
Cytotoxicity
Induce autoimmunity and immune system evasion
What are common histological features of a viral infection of the nervous system?
Destruction of neurons +/- neuronophagia
Perivascular cuffing
Parenchymal infiltrations
Inclusion bodies
What virus tends to be intranuclear?
Herpes + CSD
What virus tends to be intracytoplasmic?
Rabies
What tends to be the components of parenchymal infiltrates in viral infections of the CNS?
Lymphocytes + Plasma cells + Macrophages
What causes canine distemper?
Morbillivirus
What is the disease course of CDV?
Acute and fatal
– or –
Chronic and relapsing
What is the common method of transmission for CDV?
Respiratory
What becomes inflamed in systemic infections of CDV?
Respiratory + GI
What cell type do lesions appear with CDV?
Can be detected in neurons + astrocytes + oligodendrocytes
No particular selectivity
What neurological lesions are seen with CDV?
Varies
Necrotizing meningoencephalitis
– or –
Large patchy areas of demylelination
Where is demyleination most prominent in CDV?
Peri-ventricular locations around 4th ventricle
In white matter and penduncles
What is seen with acute distemper demyelination histologically?
Vacuoles + Glial cells with inclusions bodies