Cenurosi cerebrale cronica nell’ovino di razza sarda: aspetti clinici, RM e ICP

Aims: to describe cytological cerebrospinal fluid analysis (LCR), and survival rate after surgical therapy; to correlate neurological status (NS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and intracranial pressure (ICP) values in sheep affected by chronic CC, and to describe in vivo the evolution of the CC infection in three small ruminants. M&M: a total of 61 affected sheep, one affected goat and 10 healthy control sheep were used.Study 1: NS and brain MRI were scored and correlated (33). LCR (19), clinical (33) and MRI follow up (18), and brain histological examination (5) were performed.Study 2: NS, brain MRI and ICP were scored and correlated (20).Study 3: in vivo evolution of CC infection was described (3).Results: Study 1: survival rate was 75%;. No correlation was observed between NS and MRI. Volume of the cranial cavity was significantly larger. Diffuse cranial bone abnormalities and signs of increased ICP in MRI images were detected and were positively correlated with cyst volumes.Study 2: ICP was significantly high in affected animals. NS depend on ICP value. Weak correlations between cranial cavity volume and ICP and between cyst volume and ICP were observed.Study 3: the pattern of parasite evolution was described. Conclusion and clinical relevance: abnormal CSF does not exclude the presence of CC. ICP was significantly high in affected animals. NS depend on ICP value.