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Frontiers in veterinary science2022; 9; 821815; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.821815

Comparison of Fluid Analysis and Cytologic Findings of Cerebrospinal Fluid Between Three Collection Sites in Adult Equids With Neurological Disease.

Abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is routinely collected from three sites in the horse, the atlanto-occipital (AO), atlantoaxial (AA), and lumbosacral (LS) space. A comparison between fluid analysis parameters [total protein, total nucleated cell count (TNCC), red blood cell (RBC) count, and morphologic analysis] from samples obtained at each of the three sites has not previously been performed. A retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate the differences in fluid analysis of CSF between the AO, AA, and LS sites in equids presented to a referral service for evaluation of suspected neurological disease. A total of 113 equids aged ≥1 year that underwent CSF collection between 2008 and 2020 were included. Total nucleated cell count, RBC concentration, total protein (TP), and morphologic evaluation between CSF samples obtained from the three sites were compared. When comparing all samples, LS centesis was associated with higher RBC compared to other sites ( < 0.05); TP was lower in the AA group than in the LS group ( < 0.05). Within a subset of cytologically unremarkable samples, RBC concentration was highest in LS samples ( < 0.01); TP was higher in LS samples compared to AA samples ( < 0.05) and TNCC was higher ( < 0.01) in AA and LS groups compared to the AO. In cytologically abnormal samples, there were no significant differences between sites in any parameter. Abnormal cytology was correlated with non-survival ( = 0.0002). Non-survival was associated with higher TNCC ( < 0.01). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for TNCC had an area under the curve of 0.67 (95% CI, 0.55-0.79) and indicated that a cutoff value of 24 cells/μL maximized specificity (72%) and sensitivity (54%) to predict non-survival in all horses. Positive predictive value was 45%; negative predictive value was 78%. The concentration of RBC was higher in samples from the LS site. This has clinical implications due to the importance of comparative diagnostics and its potential impact on cytologic evaluation. There were minimal differences in multiple other parameters between sites, which are likely clinically insignificant.
Copyright © 2022 Young, Hepworth-Warren and Dembek.
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Publication Date: 2022-04-26 PubMed ID: 35558896PubMed Central: PMC9087559DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.821815Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research focused on comparing the fluid analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from three different collection sites in adult horses suffering from neurological diseases. It found minimal differences in multiple parameters between the sites, but the concentration of red blood cells was notably higher in samples taken from the lumbosacral site.

Method of Study

  • The study analyzed samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) routinely collected from three sites in horses i.e., the atlanto-occipital (AO), atlantoaxial (AA), and lumbosacral (LS) space.
  • The research validated analysis parameters including total protein, total nucleated cell count (TNCC), red blood cell (RBC) count, and morphologic analysis from samples obtained at each of the three sites.
  • The research included a retrospective analysis of 113 horses that were at least a year old, and which had undergone CSF collection between 2008 and 2020. They were being evaluated for suspected neurological diseases.

Findings of the Study

  • The comparative analysis found that LS centesis was associated with a higher RBC count compared to the other sites, and the total protein was lower in the AA group than in the LS group.
  • Within a subset of cytologically healthy samples, the concentration of RBC was the highest in LS samples, and the total protein was higher in LS samples than in AA samples. Notably, the Total nucleated cell count was higher in AA and LS groups compared to the AO.
  • Interestingly, the study found that in cases with abnormal cytology, there were no noticeable differences between any of the three sites in any of the evaluated parameters.
  • In conclusion, the study found that abnormal cytology was linked with non-survival, with the non-survival associated with higher TNCC.

Implications of the Study

  • The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for TNCC showed an area under the curve of 0.67 indicating that a cutoff value of 24 cells/μL achieved the highest specificity (72%) and sensitivity (54%) in predicting non-survival in all horses.
  • The study found a higher concentration of red blood cells in samples taken from the LS site, which might have clinical implications because it creates potential impact on cytologic evaluation.
  • The study also suggested that other minor differences in measurements from the different CSF collection sites are likely clinically insignificant.

Cite This Article

APA
Young KAS, Hepworth-Warren KL, Dembek KA. (2022). Comparison of Fluid Analysis and Cytologic Findings of Cerebrospinal Fluid Between Three Collection Sites in Adult Equids With Neurological Disease. Front Vet Sci, 9, 821815. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.821815

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Pages: 821815
PII: 821815

Researcher Affiliations

Young, Kimberly A S
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.
Hepworth-Warren, Kate L
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.
Dembek, Katarzyna A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Quattrini C, Scalco R, Vernau W, Dini P, Aleman M. Effect of time and autologous serum addition on the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Mar;37(2):713-717.
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  2. Hamed MA, Hamouda H, Elmetwally M, Farrag F, Rizk MA, Abumandour MMA, Hegazy YM, Samy A. Comparative experimental anesthesia efficacy study of epidural injection at the sacrococcygeal space using ultrasound guidance versus blindness technique in Egyptian donkeys (Equus asinus). BMC Vet Res 2025 Feb 7;21(1):57.
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  3. Malmström E, Cole RC, Hofmeister EH, Stern JK, Passler T. Comparison of atlantoaxial and lumbosacral cerebrospinal fluid centesis techniques in South American camelids. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Mar-Apr;38(2):1232-1239.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.17023pubmed: 38407387google scholar: lookup
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