Cerebral thromboembolism secondary to infective endocarditis in a pet rabbit
Solanes, Ferran (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari)
Bassan, Tiziana (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari)
Cobos Arnalot, Àlex (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals)
Frau, Maria (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari)
Martorell Montserrat, Jaume (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals.)

Date:	2022
Abstract:	Central vestibular disease is one of the most common problems in pet rabbits. Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection appears to be the most frequent etiology, but other causes have been described. It is known that infective endocarditis can cause thromboembolic disease affecting multiple organ systems in dogs. Secondary embolism from bacterial endocarditis commonly occurs, mainly in the spleen and kidneys; but cerebral thromboembolism disease secondary to infective endocarditis has rarely been reported in dogs. In this case, an 8-year-old, neutered male rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) presented with mild hyperthermia, left head tilt and rolling. Radiographic examination, complete blood count, serum biochemistry and abdominal ultrasound were unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging did not show any abnormalities in the central nervous system. An Encephalitozoon cuniculi serology was performed with elevated IgM and IgG titers (1:320; 1:1280 respectively), the patient was hospitalized and treated for encephalitozoonis but the rabbit died 8 days after presentation and the body was submitted for necropsy. Histopathological examination revealed multifocal necrotizing and suppurative myocarditis, with multiple emboli in kidneys, lungs and central nervous system. Polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Ziehl-Neelsen staining of samples from the central nervous system and kidneys yielded negative results for Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Due to the positive predictive value of 92% of indirect fluorescent antibody technique Encephalitozoon cuniculi serology, in this case a false positive was suspected. Based on the results, final diagnosis of cerebral thromboembolism secondary to infective endocarditis was emitted. This is the first report of this process naturally occurring in rabbits, and it should be included in the differential diagnosis of central vestibular syndrome in this species.
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Cerebral thromboembolism ; Head til ; Infective endocarditis ; Vestibular disease ; Magnetic resonance imaging
Published in:	Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, Vol. 40 (january 2022) , p. 41-44, ISSN 1931-6283

DOI: 10.1053/j.jepm.2021.11.002

4 p, 5.0 MB

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