title: Unusual Necrotizing Encephalitis in Raccoons and Skunks Concurrently Infected With Canine Distemper Virus and Sarcocystis sp.
abstract: Canine distemper virus commonly infects free-ranging, terrestrial mesopredators throughout the United States. Due to the immunosuppressive effects of the virus, concurrent opportunistic infections are also common. Among these, secondary systemic protozoal infections have been described in a number of species. We report an unusual presentation of necrotizing encephalitis associated withSarcocystissp in four raccoons and one skunk concurrently infected with canine distemper virus. Lesions were characterized by variably sized necrotizing cavitations composed of abundant mineral admixed with inflammatory cells and protozoa.Sarcocystissp was confirmed via immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody toSarcocystis neurona The pathologic changes are similar to lesions in human AIDS patients infected withToxoplasma gondii.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA skubiski@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Kubiski
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sisó
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Church
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Cartoceti
authors.affiliation: California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Pesavento
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000662:veterinary; D004216:Distemper / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D004217:Distemper Virus, Canine / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D000069544:Infectious Encephalitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012889:Mephitidae / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D009336:Necrosis / Q000662:veterinary; D011821:Raccoons / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014481:United States
keywords: Sarcocystis; distemper; nervous; parasitic; pathologic calcification; raccoon; viral; wildlife