Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from cattle with central nervous system disorders after storage for 24 hours with autologous serum.
BACKGROUND
We compared the changes in cell morphology, total and differential cell counts between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples analyzed within an hour of collection (fresh sample) and after the addition of autologous serum and storage for 24 h (stored sample) in 27 cattle with central nervous system disorders.


RESULTS
There was a positive linear correlation between total and differential cell counts in the fresh and the stored samples. Cell morphology was preserved in all stored samples, except for increased vacuolization of mononuclear cells and cleaved nuclei of some small mononuclear cells. In the stored CSF samples, the total nucleated cell count and monocyte percentage were decreased (P = 0.01; P = 0.03), while the lymphocyte percentage was increased (P = 0.04). Mononuclear pleocytosis diagnosed in 20 fresh samples was cytologically confirmed in 12 of the 20 stored samples. In the remaining eight stored samples, the number of total nucleated cells was within the normal range. Neutrophilic pleocytosis was confirmed in all seven stored samples. The overall agreement rate between cytologic interpretation of the fresh and the stored CSF samples was 70 % (100 % for neutrophilic pleocytosis and 60 % for mononuclear pleocytosis).


CONCLUSIONS
Adding 11 % of autologous serum to CSF samples might allow delayed analysis with a good agreement rate for CSF cytological interpretation. Caution is nonetheless warranted, as animal age, anamnesis, and neurological presentation need to be considered when interpreting stored CSF without pleocytosis.
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Grugliasco (TO), Turin, Italy. claudio.bellino@unito.it.
C
C
Bellino
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Grugliasco (TO), Turin, Italy. barbara.miniscalco@unito.it.
B
B
Miniscalco
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Grugliasco (TO), Turin, Italy. iride.bertone@unito.it.
I
I
Bertone
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Grugliasco (TO), Turin, Italy. aurelio.cagnasso@unito.it.
A
A
Cagnasso
Private Practitioner, Turin, Italy. elisabettaocchiena@gmail.com.
E
E
Occhiena
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Grugliasco (TO), Turin, Italy. paola.gianella@unito.it.
P
P
Gianella
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Grugliasco (TO), Turin, Italy. antonio.dangelo@unito.it.
A
A
D'Angelo
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D044967:Serum / Q000737:chemistry*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000662:veterinary*; D013997:Time Factors