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Spontaneous listeric encephalitis and neuritis in sheep. Light microscopic studies
Veterinary Pathology
|July 1, 1977
Summary
Listeric encephalitis in sheep involves cranial nerve inflammation (neuritis) and brain stem lesions. The infectious agent likely migrates along the trigeminal nerve to the brain, causing disease.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathology
Background:
- Spontaneous listeric encephalitis is a serious neurological disease in sheep.
- Understanding the pathogenesis is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the pathological changes and spread of Listeria in sheep with listeric encephalitis.
- To elucidate the role of cranial nerves, particularly the trigeminal nerve, in the disease's progression.
Main Methods:
- Histopathological examination of cranial nerves and brain tissues from affected sheep.
- Identification and localization of the infectious agent (Gram-positive bacilli) within neural tissues.
Main Results:
- Neuritis characterized by inflammatory cell accumulation was observed in cranial nerves of 16/17 sheep.
- Extensive trigeminal neuritis was common, often unilateral, with brain lesions correlating to nerve involvement.
- Infectious agents were found within cranial nerves, brain lesions, phagocytes, neurons, and axons, suggesting centripetal migration and intraaxonal spread.
Conclusions:
- The trigeminal nerve serves as a likely route for Listeria entry into the sheep brain.
- Intraaxonal movement of bacteria is a probable mechanism in the pathogenesis of listeric encephalitis.