A 3-year-old, spayed female rat terrier was evaluated for acute onset of stupor, disorientation, and tetraparesis.
Clinical signs progressed over 3 weeks to eventual right-sided hemiparesis and circling to the left. A Cuterebra spp. larva was discovered in the vomitus of the dog 2 weeks after the onset of clinical signs.
Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed chronic inflammation, and magnetic resonance imaging supported a diagnosis of a parasitic tract through the left cerebral hemisphere.
Medical management included a tapering anti-inflammatory dose of prednisone.
Clinical signs improved slowly over time.
This is the first description of a presumptive antemortem diagnosis of canine cuterebrosis in the central nervous system.
Source: Lisa M. Tieber, Todd W. Axlund, Stephen T. Simpson, John T. Hathcock (2006): Survival of a Suspected Case of Central Nervous System Cuterebrosis in a Dog: Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings. In: Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 42:238-242 (2006)
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