Neurologic aspects of North American zoonoses

Neurologic dysfunction is a frequent presentation or complication of zoonotic infections. The differential diagnosis is broad and will include nonzoonotic diseases as well. Patterns of neurologic findings, systemic signs of infection, and epidemiologic risk factors are useful in the approach to diagnosis and initial empiric treatment of the patient with suspected zoonotic infection. Associations between these patterns and specific organisms are emphasized by means of tables and algorithms.