Meningo-Encephalitis in a Bitch
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MENINGO-ENCEPHALITIS IN A BITCH
By G. K. SHARMA, P.V.S., Punjab Veterinary College, Lahore
(Received for publication on 29 September 1945)
A BITCH was admitted as in-patient on 12 Novem-
ber 1944.
History. She had whelped normally on the 10
November 1944 and suddenly went blind two days
later.
Symptoms. When let loose she kept walking round
in an anti-clockwise direction. The pupils were
dilated and there was complete loss of vision without
any evident abnormality (amaurosis). She had
periodic fits of excitement accompanied by loud
cries. There was staggering gait in the hind limbs
and the head was occasionally pushed into the corner
of the kennel. Marked spasms and stiffness of the
neck muscles were also observed.
Later on the circle in which she walked became
narrower and narrower till at last she used to rotate
around her own axis. After walking a few steps the
head was depressed and a complete sommersault was
performed. Her body temperature ranged between
103° and 104°F. but in the last stages it came down
to 102°F. Paralytic symptoms set in so that she
was unable to stand. She died on 20 November
1944 under general paralysis.
Post-mortem. The meninges were found congested,
adherent to the brain substance and studded with
small haemorrhages. The uterus contained a small
quantity of brownish discharge and the uterine
mucosa was inflamed. It appears that the primary
focus of infection was the uterus which gave rise to
meningo-encephalitis.
The histopathological examination of the cerebral
cortex showed acute congestion of the blood vessels
with perivascular cellular infiltration.
No other
degenerative changes were seen.
A culture from the cerebral cortex was prepared
on agar and blood agar media and subcultures were
made on the same media which were sent to the
Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar,
for determinative bacteriology. The organisms were
found to be gram-negative rods fermenting dextrose,
lactose and mannite with the production of acid and
gas.
It was therefore concluded that the organisms
belonged to B. coli group.
SUMMARY
A case of meningo-encephalitis in a bitch has been
described.
It appeared from a post-mortem examination that
the primary focus of infection was the uterus.
From a study of cultures from cerebral cortex for
determinative bacteriology, it was concluded that the
organism belonged to B. coli group.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
My thanks are due to J. S. Garewal, Esqr., I.V.S.,
M.R.C.V.S., Principal, Punjab Veterinary College,
Lahore, for providing necessary facilities at the
College and to J. R. Haddow, Esqr., M.R.C.V.S.,
Officer-in-Charge, Bacteriology and Pathology
Sections, Imperial Veterinary Research Institute,
Mukteswar, for determinative bacteriological work.
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