Lecture 33

Question 1

How does congenital differ from inherited?

Answer 1

-congenital means present from birth
-inherited means passed through parent lines via genes
-diseases can be both congenital and inherited; but not all congenital defects are inherited

Question 2

What is the pathophysiology of hydrocephalus?

Answer 2

-increase in volume of CSF ->
-thinning of cranial bones ->
-bulging of skull

Question 3

What are potential causes of hydrocephalus?

Answer 3

-inheritance via a single autosomal recessive gene
-vitamin A deficiency
-neoplasia or abscess (acquired)

Question 4

What are the charactersitics of hydrancephaly?

Answer 4

-absent cerebral cortical tissue
-sacs full of CSF
-skull has normal shape

Question 5

What are the causes of hydrancephaly?

Answer 5

*in utero infection with:
-bluetongue
-BVDV
-border dz
-schmallenberg virus
-akabane
-rift valley fever

Question 6

What are the signs of hydrancephaly?

Answer 6

-cerebellar signs
-blindness
-arthrogryposis (joint contracture)

Question 7

What are the two presentations of chondrodysplasia?

Answer 7

*recessive homozygous:
-bulldog calf is aborted

*heterozygous:
-smaller, heavy bodied animal
-disproportional
-abnormal leg or tracheal conformation

Question 8

What are the characteristics of cerebellar hypoplasia?

Answer 8

-associated with in-utero infection with BVDV
-dam is exposed around 60 to 120 days gestation
-cerebellum is absent or a remnant

Question 9

What are the clinical signs of cerebellar hypoplasia?

Answer 9

-ataxia
-unable to stand
-opisthotonos
-wide-base stance
-tremors
-hypermetria

Question 10

How is cerebellar hypoplasia diagnosed?

Answer 10

-cerebellar signs
-other congenital defects associated with BVDV PIs, like cataracts

Question 11

How is BVDV controlled?

Answer 11

-vaccinate cattle prior to breeding
-test and cull PI animals (ear notch ELISA)

Question 12

What are the characteristics of spastic paresis?

Answer 12

-heritable progressive disease
-all breeds of cattle impacted

Question 13

What are the clinical signs of spastic paresis?

Answer 13

-spastic contractions within hind limbs that lead to hyperextension of hind limbs
-looks similar to upward fixation of patella, but animal cannot correct it

Question 14

How is spastic paresis controlled?

Answer 14

cull impacted animals, especially bulls

Question 15

What is enzootic ataxia associated with?

Answer 15

copper deficiency during gestation in ewes and does

Question 16

What are the clinical signs of enzootic ataxia?

Answer 16

-present anywhere from birth to 6 months of age
-paresis and incoordination in the hind limbs

Question 17

How is enzootic ataxia diagnosed?

Answer 17

-low copper levels in blood/tissue
-response to treatment

Question 18

What is the treatment for enzootic ataxia?

Answer 18

-supplement oral copper sulfate weekly
-irreversible if severe; cull

Question 19

Why is it important that border disease/hairy shakers is caused by a pestivirus?

Answer 19

the disease can cause PI animals; similar to pestivirus disease BVDV

Question 20

What are the clinical signs seen in a border disease PI animal?

Answer 20

-abortion
-infertility
-deformed lambs/hairy shakers

Question 21

What are the clinical signs of border disease seen in lambs?

Answer 21

-more severe if affected early
-steel wool coat
-high mortality
-ataxia and tremors
-CNS signs disappear within 20 weeks in survivors; remain a PI for life

Question 22

How are neurologic diseases potentially diagnosed?

Answer 22

*CSF fluid:
-collection
-analysis
-cytology

*advanced imaging:
-radiographs
-myelogram
-CT
-MRI

Question 23

What is the function of CSF?

Answer 23

-nutrition
-protection
-remove wastes from CNS

Question 24

Where is CSF produced?

Answer 24

in the ventricles; secreted from the choroid plexus
-total volume is produced and absorbed 3 to 5 times a day

Question 25

What is the typical composition of CSF?

Answer 25

-clear -acellular -lower K, Ca, and glucose compared to blood -higher Na and Mg compared to blood

Question 26

What are the potential sites for CSF collection?

Answer 26

*AO: -brain and cerebellar disease -requires GA and animal in lateral recumbency *lumbosacral: -spinal cord and CNS lesions -dorsal midline between L6 and S1 -clip, prep, block, stab w/ #15 blade, and insert needle -go about 3 inches deep in adult cattle

Question 27

How is the appropriate CSF collection site palpated?

Answer 27

-thumb and middle finger of one hand are placed over wings of ilium -index finger used to palpate midline depression between L6 and S1

Question 28

How is a CSF collection site chosen?

Answer 28

want to sample at the site closest to where the suspected lesion is

Question 29

What are the abnormal findings in the CSF and their meanings?

Answer 29

*platelets: -indicates hemorrhage; often tap related *xanthochromia: -can last ten days post-hemorrhage *increased protein: -inflammation -infection -trauma -neoplasia *pleocytosis -increased number of WBCs -greater than 400 cells/mL caused turbid appearance -refer to individual flash card on indications

Question 30

What can pleocytosis indicate in the CSF?

Answer 30

*mononuclear pleocytosis: -listeria -viral -abscess -salt poisoning *neutrophilic: -meningitis -TEME *eosinophilic: -protozoal -helminthic -salt poisoning

Question 31

What is the supportive care done in cases of neuro. disease?

Answer 31

*ensure adequate caloric intake -special feed -force feed or PPN *proper hydration -oral or IV fluids *prevent pressure on nerves and vessels -flotation therapy -sling -change recumbency *prevent trauma -bandages -wound care

Question 32

Which conditions in a neonate can look like neurologic disease?

Answer 32

-hypoglycemia -acidosis