Clinical evaluation of rabies virus meningoencephalomyelitis in a dog

A 6-month-old, female, mixed-breed dog presented for acute, progressive, flaccid paraplegia and bilateral pelvic-limb hyperesthesia. A lymphocytic pleocytosis with 366 mg/dL protein was found on cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) evaluation. Electromyography (EMG) demonstrated positive sharp waves and fibrillations in the left pelvic limb; the M wave of the left sciatic nerve was not obtainable by nerve stimulation. Seizures and dementia began during recovery from anesthesia. Six days after onset of paralysis, the dog was euthanized. Direct fluorescent antibody testing of the brain was positive for raccoon rabies virus. This case demonstrates clinical evaluation, CSF analysis, and EMG in an animal with rabies meningoencephalomyelitis.