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Cryptococcal meningitis in a goat--a case report.
George Stilwell1, Hugo Pissarra
1Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, University of Lisbon, Alto da Ajuda, Lisbon 1300-477, Portugal. stilwell@fmv.ulisboa.pt.
BMC Veterinary Research
|April 9, 2014
Summary
Cryptococcus neoformans can cause meningitis in goats, a condition not previously reported. This finding is crucial for diagnosing neurological signs like paraplegia and hyperesthesia in affected goats.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Mycology
- Animal Neurology
Background:
- Cryptococcus spp. are opportunistic fungi causing disease in immunocompromised animals.
- While pneumonia and mastitis are reported in goats, meningitis has not been documented.
Observation:
- A five-year-old buck presented with severe neurological signs, including paraplegia and hindquarter hyperesthesia.
- Standard antibiotic treatment failed, leading to euthanasia and postmortem examination.
- Lesions of lumbar meningitis, lung nodules, and caseous lymphadenitis were observed.
Findings:
- Encapsulated Cryptococcus neoformans were identified in the lungs and meninges.
- This case confirms cryptococcal meningitis in a goat.
- Concurrent immunosuppression from Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection is a potential factor.
Implications:
- Cryptococcal meningitis must be considered in the differential diagnosis for goats exhibiting neurological signs such as paresis, ataxia, and hyperesthesia.
- This expands the known spectrum of diseases caused by Cryptococcus spp. in small ruminants.
- Highlights the importance of considering fungal infections in differential diagnoses for neurological presentations in goats.
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