Spinal Cord Dz, Tetanus, Botulism

What are a few nutritional deficiencies that can cause spinal cord trauma?

Secondary hyperparathyroidism

Copper deficiencies

What kind of spinal cord trauma will we see most commonly?

Vertebral body fracture/ luxation

Compression/congusssion -hematoma or extradural

How do you dx spinal cord trauma?

CSF tap - erythrophagocytosis

Rads/CT

Postmortem

How do you tx acute trauma w/o fracture?

Anti-inflammatory drugs

Stall rest

Slings/ thick bedding

How do you tx vertebral fracture?

Fiberglass cast - cervical fractures in SR

Euth

How do animals most commonly get vertebral osteomyelitis or abscesses?

Hematogenous spread of septic conditions

-Navel ill, pneumonia, enteritis, endocarditis

Extension of local infections

-tail docking in lambs

What are the three most common causes of osteomyelitis or abscess in cattle?

T. pyogenes

F. necrophorum

M. hemolytica

What is the most common cause of osteomyelitis or abscess in SR?

C. pseudotuberculosis

How are tx for osteomyelitis or abscesses?

Sx drainage

Procaine P G long term

-PX is grave even w/ tx

Who most commonly gets Ankylosing spondylosis?

Old mature Holstein bulls

What signs will we see in ankylosing spondylosis?

Knuckling in hind limbs - LMN

What causes epideral abscess?

Ascending myelitis

-Tail docking

-Repeated epidural inj.

What are clinical signs of spinal cord abscesses?

Usually affects S3-Cd5

-flaccid tail

-anus

-loss of sensation penis/ perineum/ vulva

What is the most common parasite migration to the spinal cord?

Parelphostrongylus tenuis

Who will be the definitive host of the meningeal worm?

White tailed deer

Parelphostrongylus tenuis will have a ____ life cycle?

Indirect life cycle

-snails intermediate host

Who is the worst aberrant host of Parelphostrongylus tenuis?

Llamas

What are the most common signs of Parelphostrongylus tenuis in a llama?

Assending Asymmetrical or multifocal signs of spinal cord dz -> starts at lumbosacral then moves up to brain slowly

How is Parelphostrongylus tenuis dx?

CSF -> eosinophilic plecytosis

Postmortem findings

What is tx for Parelphostrongylus tenuis?

Ivermectin

Fenbendazole

Anti-inflammatory drugs

Vit B,C,E

Deep beding, sling

What are good prevention strategies for Parelphostrongylus tenuis?

Fenses to keep deer out

Herd confinement

Gravel/limestone - less snails

Prphylactic ivermectin

What is the most common cause of lymphoma in the spine?

BLV - Enzootic lymphoma

What are dx of lymphoma in the spinal cord?

Increased WBC in lumbosacral CSF

Lymphocytosisi

Post-mortem - definitive

What are tx for lymphoma?

Corticosteroids

Euth

Spastic paresis is caused by what?

A recessive genetic trait usually starting at 6w to 1y (starts unilateral, then goes bilateral)

What is dx for spastic paresis?

Hock an stifle hyperextended

Limb extended caudally - "shorter leg"

How is spastic paresis tx?

Salvage

-partial tibial neurectomy

-partial tenectomy of gastrocnemius

How do you control spastic paresis?

Dont breed clinically affected

What is the cause of enzootic ataxia?

Copper deficiency during pernatal/ perinatal period

What is the role of copper in the nervous system?

Collagen

Myelin

Melanin formation

What can we see w/ a copper deficiency?

Bilateral symmetric loss of myelin in the spinal cord

-cavitation of cerebral white matter

What are clinical signs of congenital enzootic ataxia

Weak and unable to stand

Tetraparesis

Born dead

What are clinical signs of progressive spinal swayback?

Older lambs (2-4m)

Progressive ataxia and paresis

Muscle atrophy

uncrimped or depigmented wool

How do you dx enzootic ataxia?

Low Cu in blood

How is enzootic ataxia tx and controlled?

No tx

-Cu supplement (copper glycinate)

-Balanced ration (Zn, Mo, Fe)

What factors predispose ruminants and swine to Tetanus?

Navel ill

Banding castration

Deep wounds/ infected uterus

What are the three toxins produced by C. tetani?

Tetanospasmin -> causes clin signs

Tetanolysin -> tissue necrosis

Nonspasmogenic toxin

What are clinical signs of tetanus?

Muscle hypertonia and spasms - incubated for 2-3w

-Sawhorse

-prolapsed third eyelid

-locked jaw

What are goals of tx for tetanus?

Elim infection

Neutralize toxins

Relive spasms

nursing care

Establish active antitox immunity

How do you eliminate tetanus?

Debride and inj PPG around margins

PPG/ K-pen if systemic

How do you neutralize the free tetanus toxin?

Tetanus antitoxin

How are muscle spasms in tetanus treated?

Ace

Diazepam

How is tetanus controlled?

Vax -> Covexin 8 or CDT

What is prognosis of tetanus?

Less than 50% mortality

Improvement in 1w if survival

What are the methods of infection w/ botulism?

Ingestion of preformed toxins - forage poisoning

Toxico-infections - toxin production in GI

Wound botulism

What is the incubation period of botulism?

1-2d

What are clinical signs of botulism?

Progressive ascending muscular hypotonia

-decreased tone/jaw tone

-dysphaga

-mydriasis

-Flaccid paralysis

How is botulism tx?

Antitoxin - if early

Abx

-fatal if untreated