Epidural dirofilariosis in a paraparetic cat: case report of Dirofilaria immitis infection. Issue 12 (December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Favole, Paolo; Cauduro, Alberto; Opreni, Mauro; Zanzani, Sergio; Albonico, Francesca; Manfredi, Maria; Cantile, Carlo; Lorenzo, Valentina
• Is Part Of: Journal of feline medicine and surgery. Volume 15:Issue 12(2013)
• Page Start: 1160
• Page End: 1164
• Publication Date: 2013-12
• Subjects: Cats -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Cats -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 636.8089
• DOI: 10.1177/1098612X13492740
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1098-612X

Abstract

A 6-year-old neutered female cat was examined for chronic and progressive pelvic limb ataxia that progressed to non-ambulatory paraparesis over 1 month. Haematological and serum analyses were mainly within normal ranges. Thoracic and abdominal radiographs did not reveal any morphological abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging investigation of the thoraco-lumbar spine demonstrated a well-defined, extradural mass that extended into the epidural space from the L2 to L3 vertebral bodies and expanded in the L2 to L3 left intervertebral foramen. During surgery, a long, narrow, white parasite which was weakly adherent to the phlogistic epidural fat tissue was gently removed from the spinal canal. Histological examination of the pathological tissue supported a diagnosis of epidural steatitis surrounding a female adult Dirofilaria immitis . This is a novel case of natural D immitis infection with spinal localisation in a cat, well documented with magnetic resonance investigation, and cytological and histological examinations, introducing a novel differential diagnosis for extradural spinal masses in cats.