title: Hypernatremia in a Cat with Toxoplasma-Induced Panencephalitis.
abstract: A 12 yr old female neutered Carthusian crossbreed cat was presented due to progressive neurological signs. Clinical signs included dehydration, stupor, and anisocoria. Laboratory examination revealed severe hypernatremia, azotemia, hyperglobulinemia, and an erythrocytosis. Clinical signs and hypernatremia suggested an intracranial process. Imaging studies revealed a loss of structure in the cerebrum, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland. Due to a poor prognosis, the cat was euthanatized. Histopathological examination revealed a subacute granulomatous and necrotizing panencephalitis with Toxoplasma-typical protozoa. The Toxoplasma-induced dysfunction of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland led to diabetes insipidus, which was, in combination with insufficient water intake, the most likely cause for the hypernatremia.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Veterinary Pathology (A.D.G.) and Clinic of Small Animals (C.W., M.B., B.K.), Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weingart
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Veterinary Pathology (A.D.G.) and Clinic of Small Animals (C.W., M.B., B.K.), Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Achim D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Veterinary Pathology (A.D.G.) and Clinic of Small Animals (C.W., M.B., B.K.), Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunnberg
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Veterinary Pathology (A.D.G.) and Clinic of Small Animals (C.W., M.B., B.K.), Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kohn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats; D003919:Diabetes Insipidus / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006955:Hypernatremia / Q000662:veterinary*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D016781:Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*