title: Seizure disorders in 43 cattle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Large animals have a relatively high seizure threshold, and in most cases seizures are acquired. No published case series have described this syndrome in cattle.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe clinical findings and outcomes in cattle referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Turin (Italy) because of seizures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Client-owned cattle with documented evidence of seizures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of cattle with episodes of seizures reported between January 2002 and February 2014 were reviewed. Evidence of seizures was identified based on the evaluation of seizure episodes by the referring veterinarian or 1 of the authors. Animals were recruited if physical and neurologic examinations were performed and if diagnostic laboratory test results were available.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-three of 49 cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 8 months. Thirty-one animals were male and 12 were female. Piedmontese breed accounted for 39/43 (91%) animals. Seizures were etiologically classified as reactive in 30 patients (70%) and secondary or structural in 13 (30%). Thirty-six animals survived, 2 died naturally, and 5 were euthanized for reasons of animal welfare. The definitive cause of reactive seizures was diagnosed as hypomagnesemia (n = 2), hypocalcemia (n = 12), and hypomagnesemia-hypocalcemia (n = 16). The cause of structural seizures was diagnosed as cerebrocortical necrosis (n = 8), inflammatory diseases (n = 4), and lead (Pb) intoxication (n = 1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study results indicate that seizures largely are reported in beef cattle and that the cause can be identified and successfully treated in most cases.
authors: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: D'Angelo
authors: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Bellino
authors: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Bertone
authors: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Cagnotti
authors: National Reference Centre for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) - Neuropathology Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Iulini
authors: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Miniscalco
authors: National Reference Centre for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) - Neuropathology Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Casalone
authors: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Gianella
authors: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Cagnasso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D008275:Magnesium Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Bovine; Central nervous system; Neurology; Seizures