title: Spinal epidural abscess in two calves.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report clinical signs, diagnostic and surgical or necropsy findings, and outcome in 2 calves with spinal epidural abscess (SEA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical report.
  
  
  METHODS
  Calves (n=2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Calves had neurologic examination, analysis and antimicrobial culture of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), vertebral column radiographs, myelography, and in 1 calf, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A definitive diagnosis of SEA was confirmed by necropsy in 1 calf and during surgery and histologic examination of vertebral canal tissue in 1 calf.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical signs were difficulty in rising, ataxia, fever, apparent spinal pain, hypoesthesia, and paresis/plegia which appeared 15 days before admission. Calf 1 had pelvic limb weakness and difficulty standing and calf 2 had severe ataxia involving both thoracic and pelvic limbs. Extradural spinal cord compression was identified by myelography. SEA suspected in calf 1 with discospondylitis was confirmed at necropsy whereas calf 2 had MRI identification of the lesion and was successfully decompressed by laminectomy and SEA excision. Both calves had peripheral neutrophilia and calf 2 had neutrophilic pleocytosis in CSF. Bacteria were not isolated from CSF, from the surgical site or during necropsy. Calf 2 improved neurologically and had a good long-term outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Good outcome in a calf with SEA was obtained after adequate surgical decompression and antibiotic administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SEA should be included in the list of possible causes of fever, apparent spinal pain, and signs of myelopathy in calves.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Veterinarie, Ospedale Veterinario Grandi Animali, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Zani
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romanò
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scandella
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rondena
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Riccaboni
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morandi
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Giancamillo
authors.forename: Angelo G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Belloli
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pravettoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020802:Epidural Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents