Cytology of equine cerebrospinal fluid.
Abstract: The cytology of cerebrospinal fluid samples from horses is described. The samples were obtained from 24 normal horses, 35 horses with axonal degeneration and/or spinal cord compression, 29 horses with encephalomyelitis, 14 horses with other lesions of the nervous system, and eight horses with signs of neurologic dysfunction of undetermined origin. (Three of the latter were suspected botulinum intoxications.) Fluid was aspirated from the atlanto-occipital space following general anesthesia or immediately after a lethal dose of barbiturate. In two horses, fluid also was aspirated from the lumbosacral space. Small mononuclear cells were predominant in normal horses, and in most horses with axonal degeneration and encephalomyelitis. Several horses with encephalomyelitis also had neutrophils, eosinophils, and some mitotic figures. Although the cytologic findings were abnormal in many of the horses with disease of the central nervous system, in most horses the cytologic findings were normal.
Publication Date: 1983-09-01 PubMed ID: 6636463DOI: 10.1177/030098588302000507Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The researchers conducted an in-depth cytological study on cerebrospinal fluid from horses, taking samples from a range of horses with varying neurological conditions to identify any common abnormalities or patterns that could provide insights into the diagnosis or management of neurological disorders in horses.
Sample Collection Method
- The animal subjects for the study included normal horses and those with a variety of neurological disorders. Disorders included axonal degeneration or spinal cord compression, encephalomyelitis, and undiagnosed neurological dysfunction.
- The samples were carefully extracted from the atlanto-occipital space, a region at the back of the horse’s neck where the spine meets the skull. This was done following general anesthesia or immediately after administering a lethal dose of a barbiturate.
- In two instances, fluid was also aspirated from the lumbosacral space, located near the horse’s lower spine.
Results and Observations
- Small mononuclear cells were found to predominate in the cerebrospinal fluid of normal horses as well as in most horses with axonal degeneration and encephalomyelitis.
- In some horses with encephalomyelitis, other cells including neutrophils, eosinophils, and some mitotic figures were also identified.
- A marked observation was that in several horses with central nervous system disease, abnormal cytology was detected. Yet, in most horses, regardless of their neurological health status, the cytology of the cerebrospinal fluid appeared normal.
Research Implications and Significance
- This research could have valuable implications for veterinary medicine, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions in horses.
- Although abnormal cytology was found in several horses with neurological disorders, most showed normal cytology, suggesting that the cytology of cerebrospinal fluid alone might not provide a definitive diagnostic tool.
- The variety of cell types found in the cerebrospinal fluid of horses with different neurological conditions may add valuable knowledge to the understanding of these diseases.
- Besides, the methodology used for sample extraction can serve as a useful reference for future research in this area.
Cite This Article
APA
Beech J.
(1983).
Cytology of equine cerebrospinal fluid.
Vet Pathol, 20(5), 553-562.
https://doi.org/10.1177/030098588302000507 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Atlanto-Occipital Joint
- Cerebrospinal Fluid / cytology
- Encephalomyelitis, Equine / cerebrospinal fluid
- Encephalomyelitis, Equine / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / cerebrospinal fluid
- Horses / cerebrospinal fluid
- Lumbosacral Region
- Male
- Nervous System Diseases / cerebrospinal fluid
- Nervous System Diseases / veterinary
- Spinal Cord Compression / cerebrospinal fluid
- Spinal Cord Compression / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Nascimento D, Ferreira A, Cruz CD. Immune Activation Following Spinal Cord Injury: A Review Focused on Inflammatory Changes in the Spinal Cord. Int J Mol Sci 2025 Oct 2;26(19).
- Young KAS, Hepworth-Warren KL, Dembek KA. Comparison of Fluid Analysis and Cytologic Findings of Cerebrospinal Fluid Between Three Collection Sites in Adult Equids With Neurological Disease. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:821815.
- Abdelhakiem MAH, Hussein HA. Collection of cerebrospinal fluid in 50 adult healthy donkeys (Equus asinus): clinical complications, and cytological and biochemical constituents. BMC Vet Res 2021 Sep 9;17(1):302.
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