A case of granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis in a dog

Jung, Ji-Youl; Jo, Suk-Hee; Kang, Yoon-Ho; Kim, Jae-Hoon

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2008;48(4):463-467.

Ji-Youl Jung¹, Suk-Hee Jo¹, Yoon-Ho Kang², Jae-Hoon Kim¹

¹College of Veterinary Medicine, Cheju National University
²ShinJeju Animal Clinic

개의 육아종성 뇌수막척수염 증례 보고

정지열¹, 조숙희¹, 강윤호², 김재훈¹

¹제주대학교 수의과대학
²신제주 동물병원

Abstract

Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) is a sporadic, idiopathic, non suppurative inflammatory disease of the canine central nervous system. GME appears to have a worldwide distribution and to occur mostly in young to middle-age dogs of small breeds. A 6-year-old female mixed dog with wry neck, ataxia and rolling was submitted to the Cheju National University for diagnosis. Grossly, in the brain, cerebrospinal fluid was mildly increased and dilatation of the subarachnoid blood vessels was observed. Histopathologically, the lesions were characterized by perivascular cuffs of lymphocytes, various numbers of macrophages and plasma cells in the brainstem and cerebral white matter. Numerous granuloma composed of lymphocytes and histiocytes were scattered throughout the brainstem. Two malacic foci characterized by axonal swelling and gitter cell infiltration with hemorrhage were noted in the medulla oblongata and cerebellum. Special stains failed to demonstrate any infectious agents. Immunohistochemically, the infiltrated cells demonstrated strong positive reactions for CD3, a marker for T lymphocytes origin. Based on the clinical signs, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry, this case was diagnosed as GME in a mixed dog.

Key Words: CD3, dog, granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis, immunohistochemistry, T lymphocyte