Download PDF
Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2011; 24(01): 72-75
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-10-02-0018
Case Report
Schattauer GmbH

Surgical treatment of a cerebral brain abscess in a cat

E. G. H. Wouters
1   Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
,
M. Beukers
1   Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
,
L. F. H. Theyse
1   Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 03 February 2010

Accepted: 06 June 2010

Publication Date:
19 December 2017 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Summary

A nine-year-old male castrated European Shorthair cat was presented with a six-day history of progressive depression and ataxic gait. Neurological examination revealed depression, absent menace in the left eye, absent pupillary light reflex in the right eye, anisocoria, circling to the right, and delayed proprioception in all limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a space-occupying right temporal lobe lesion adjacent to a small defect in the temporal bone suggestive of a meningo-encephalitis with concurrent abscess formation. The site was surgically approached by a rostrotentorial craniectomy. A cerebral abscess was found and debrided. Histopathological examination of the removed tissue demonstrated a subacute to chronic purulent encephalitis with extensive necrosis of brain tissue. Neurological symptoms resolved completely within two weeks and full recovery was observed four weeks after surgery.

Keywords

Intracranial - abscess - bite wound - cat - Propionibacterium species
 

  • References

  • 1 Mathisen GE, Johnson JP. Brain abscess. Clin Infect Dis 1997; 25: 763-779. quiz 80-81.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Carpenter J, Stapleton S, Holliman R. Retrospective analysis of 49 cases of brain abscess and review of the literature. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2007; 26: 1-11.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Heilpern KL, Lorber B. Focal intracranial infections. Infect Dis Clin North Am 1996; 10: 879-898.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Ziai WC, Lewin JJ. Update in the diagnosis and management of central nervous system infections. Neurol Clin 2008; 26: 427-468. viii.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Bakken JS, Bruun JN, Gaustad P. et al. Penetration of amoxicillin and potassium clavulanate into the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with inflamed meninges. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1986; 30: 481-484.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Tsou TP, Lee PI, Lu CY. et al. Microbiology and epidemiology of brain abscess and subdural empyema in a medical center: a 10–year experience. J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2009; 42: 405-412.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Kao PT, Tseng HK, Liu CP. et al. Brain abscess: clinical analysis of 53 cases. J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2003; 36: 129-136.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Bilderback AL, Faissler D. Surgical management of a canine intracranial abscess due to a bite wound. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio) 2009; 19: 507-512.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Bidzinski J, Koszewski W. The value of different methods of treatment of brain abscess in the CT era. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 1990; 105: 117-120.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Stephanov S. Surgical treatment of brain abscess. Neurosurgery 1988; 22: 724-730.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Mamelak AN, Mampalam TJ, Obana WG. et al. Improved management of multiple brain abscesses: a combined surgical and medical approach. Neurosurgery 1995; 36: 76-85. Discussion: 6.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Cavusoglu H, Kaya RA, Turkmenoglu ON. et al. Brain abscess: analysis of results in a series of 51 patients with a combined surgical and medical approach during an 11–year period. Neurosurg Focus 2008; 24: E9.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Kearney BP, Aweeka FT. The penetration of anti-infectives into the central nervous system. Neurol Clin 1999; 17: 883-900.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Mingrino S, Scanarini M, Magliulo E. [Penetration of amoxicillin into the cerebrospinal fluid]. Arch Sci Med (Torino) 1981; 138: 33-35.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Bauer R, Dobesberger J, Unterhofer C. et al. Outcome of adult patients with temporal lobe tumours and medically refractory focal epilepsy. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2007; 149: 1211-1216. Discussion: 6-7.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Suppiah R, Mee E, Walker EB. et al. Temporal lobe resection for refractory temporal lobe epilepsy at Auckland Hospital. N Z Med J 2009; 122: 47-56.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Elsner P. Antimicrobials and the skin physiological and pathological flora. Curr Probl Dermatol 2006; 33: 35-41.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Leyden JJ, Marples RR, Mills OH. et al. Propionibacterium levels in patients with and without Acne vulgaris. J Invest Dermatol 1979; 65: 382-284.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Hodgin EC, Michaelson F, Howerth EW. et al. Anaerobic bacterial infections causing osteomyelitis/ arthritis in a dog. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1992; 201: 886-888.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Lyons JA, Bemis DA, Bryant MJ. et al. Isolation of Propionibacterium acnes from a case of placentitis and abortion in a cow. J Vet Diagn Invest 2009; 21: 274-277.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Forbes-Faulkner JC, Pitt D, Norton JH. et al. Novel Propionibacterium infection in cattle. Aust Vet J 2000; 78: 175-178.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Jakab E, Zbinden R, Gubler J. et al. Severe infections caused by Propionibacterium acnes: an underestimated pathogen in late postoperative infections. Yale J Biol Med 1996; 69: 477-482.
    Google Scholar
  • 23 Barazi SA, Gnanalingham KK, Chopra I. et al. Delayed postoperative intracerebral abscess caused by Proprionibacterium acnes: case report and review of the literature. Br J Neurosurg 2003; 17: 336-339.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Berenson CS, Bia FJ. Propionibacterium acnes causes postoperative brain abscesses unassociated with foreign bodies: case reports. Neurosurgery 1989; 25: 130-134.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Critchley G, Strachan R. Postoperative subdural empyema caused by Propionibacterium acnes--a report of two cases. Br J Neurosurg 1996; 10: 321-323.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Jallo GI, Koslow M, Hanna BA. et al. Propionibacterium as a cause of postneurosurgical infection in patients with dural allografts: report of three cases. Neurosurgery 1999; 44: 1138-1141.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Maniatis A, Vassilouthis J. Propionibacterium acnes infection complicating craniotomy. J Hosp Infect 1980; 1: 261-264.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Skinner PR, Taylor AJ, Coakham H. Propionibacteria as a cause of shunt and postneurosurgical infections. J Clin Pathol 1978; 31: 1085-1090.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Alderson P, Roberts I. Corticosteroids for acute traumatic brain injury. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005; (01) CD000196.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Du XD, Li H, Liao L. Experimental study on protective effects of dexamethasone on traumatic brain injury in rats. Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2009; 40: 486-489.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar