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Sarcocystis sp. encephalomyelitis in a cat
Author(s) -
Bisby Tricia M.,
Holman Patricia J.,
Pitoc George A.,
Packer Rebecca A.,
Thompson Craig A.,
Raskin Rose E.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
veterinary clinical pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.537
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1939-165X
pISSN - 0275-6382
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-165x.2009.00163.x
Subject(s) - sarcocystis , pleocytosis , ataxia , sarcocystosis , biology , toxoplasma gondii , pathology , neospora caninum , encephalitis , lymphocytic pleocytosis , toxoplasmosis , cerebrospinal fluid , antibody , encephalomyelitis , virology , immunology , medicine , parasite hosting , multiple sclerosis , virus , neuroscience , world wide web , computer science
A 5‐month‐old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for spinal pain, ataxia, and anisocoria. Neuroanatomic localization indicated diffuse or multifocal central nervous system disease. On cerebrospinal fluid analysis, neutrophilic pleocytosis and intracellular protozoal merozoites were observed. The merozoites were oval, 2–4 μm in width and 4–6 μm in length, and had linear arrays of nuclear material concentrated at one pole. Serum was positive for Sarcocystis sp. antibodies and negative for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. The organism was determined to be either Sarcocystis neurona or Sarcocystis dasypi based on sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer 1 ribosomal RNA genomic region. Clinical disease resolved following treatment with 3 different protocols for protozoal infection. This case is the first to demonstrate the antemortem diagnosis and survival of a domestic cat with Sarcocystis sp.‐associated encephalomyelitis. Clinicians and cytopathologists should include Sarcocystis sp. as a differential for feline inflammatory central nervous system disease characterized by neutrophilic pleocytosis.