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Published on: November 28, 2016
Broadly reactive polymerase chain reaction for pathogen detection in canine granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis
1Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
Background:
Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) and necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME) are common inflammatory conditions of the central nervous system of dogs. Infectious pathogens, particularly viruses, are suspected to contribute to the etiopathogenesis of GME and NME.
Hypothesis:
Broadly reactive PCR might aid in the identification of infectious agents in GME and NME.
Animals:
Sixty-eight client-owned dogs evaluated by necropsy at 1 university referral hospital.
Methods:
A mixed prospective/retrospective case-control study was performed. Brain tissue prospectively collected at necropsy from GME, NME, and control cases was evaluated by broadly reactive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for adenoviruses, bunyaviruses, coronaviruses, enteroviruses, flaviviruses, herpesviruses, paramyxoviruses, and parechoviruses. In addition, these tissues were retrospectively evaluated for the presence of mycoplasmas by PCR, culture, and immunohistochemistry (IHC).
Results:
Brain tissue was collected from 11 GME and 27 NME cases and 30 controls. Viral nucleic acids were not identified in the 6 GME cases, 25 NME cases, and 2 controls evaluated by viral PCR. Mycoplasma canis was identified by Mycoplasma genus PCR in 1/5 GME and 4/25 NME cases and subsequently was cultured from 4/5 GME and 4/8 NME cases as well as 2/9 controls. The IHC did not detect M. canis in any of the 11 GME and 27 NME cases or 14 controls evaluated with strain PG14 polyclonal antiserum.
Conclusions And Clinical Importance:
The negative results suggest that viral pathogens are not common in the brain tissue of dogs with GME and NME. Further investigation is warranted to determine the importance of M . canis in cases of GME and NME.
Insights
Viral pathogens are not commonly found in dogs with granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) and necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME). Further research is needed to explore the role of Mycoplasma canis in these canine neurological conditions.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Canine Infectious Diseases
- Neuroimmunology
Background:
- Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) and necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME) are prevalent inflammatory central nervous system diseases in dogs.
- Infectious agents, particularly viruses, are implicated in the pathogenesis of GME and NME.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential role of viral and mycoplasma infections in canine GME and NME.
- To evaluate the utility of broadly reactive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for identifying infectious agents in affected canine brain tissue.
Main Methods:
- A mixed prospective/retrospective case-control study involving 68 client-owned dogs.
- Brain tissue from GME, NME, and control cases was analyzed using PCR for various viruses, and for Mycoplasma species via PCR, culture, and immunohistochemistry (IHC).
Main Results:
- No viral nucleic acids were detected in GME, NME, or control cases using broad-range PCR.
- Mycoplasma canis was identified by PCR and culture in a subset of GME and NME cases, and also in some controls.
- Immunohistochemistry did not detect Mycoplasma canis in any evaluated cases.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that common viral pathogens are unlikely to be a primary cause of GME and NME in dogs.
- Further investigation is recommended to elucidate the significance of Mycoplasma canis in canine GME and NME.
