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Metagenomic Investigation of Idiopathic Meningoencephalomyelitis in Dogs

L L Hoon-Hanks1, S McGrath2, K L Tyler3

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
|December 3, 2017
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Next-generation sequencing found no infectious agents in dogs with meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin (MUO). This suggests MUO may be an autoimmune disease rather than an infection.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Neurology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin (MUO) is a serious, common neuroinflammatory condition in dogs.
  • While immune-mediated processes are suspected, the causative agent remains unidentified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate potential infectious etiologies of MUO in dogs.
  • Utilized next-generation metagenomic sequencing to identify candidate pathogens.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study compared 11 dogs with MUO to 11 controls with non-inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) diseases.
  • Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain samples.
  • Analysis involved nucleotide and protein-level comparisons against known infectious organisms.

Main Results:

  • No candidate infectious agents were detected in dogs diagnosed with MUO.
  • The study successfully validated sequencing and analysis pipelines using known positive controls.

Conclusions:

  • The findings do not support an infectious cause for MUO in the studied canine population.
  • Results lend support to the hypothesis that MUO may be an autoimmune disorder in dogs.
Keywords:
GranulomatousLeukoencephalitisNecrotizingSequencing

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