title: COMPARISON BETWEEN PROTON MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY FINDINGS IN DOGS WITH TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS AND CLINICALLY NORMAL DOGS.
abstract: In vivo diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis is difficult due to high seroprevalence and rapid viral clearance, limiting detection of antibodies in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of tick-borne encephalitis have been reported, however MRI studies can also be negative despite the presence of neurologic signs. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) is an imaging method that provides additional information about the metabolic characteristics of brain tissues. The purpose of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to describe brain metabolites using short echo time single-voxel1H MRS in dogs with confirmed tick-borne encephalitis and compare them with healthy dogs. Inclusion criteria for the affected dogs were neurological symptoms suggestive of tick-borne encephalitis, previous endemic stay and tick-bite, diagnostic quality brain MRI and1H MRS studies, and positive antibody titers or confirmation of tick-borne encephalitis with necropsy. Control dogs were 10, clinically normal beagles that had been used in a previous study. A total of six affected dogs met inclusion criteria. All dogs affected with tick-borne encephalitis had1H MRS metabolite concentration alterations versus control dogs. These changes included mild to moderate decreases in N-acetyl aspartate and creatine peaks, and mild increases in glutamate/glutamine peaks. No lactate or lipid signal was detected in any dog. Myoinositol and choline signals did not differ between affected and control dogs. In conclusion, findings supported the use of1H MRS as an adjunctive imaging method for dogs with suspected tick-borne encephalitis and inconclusive conventional MRI findings.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Diagnostic Imaging, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 258c, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sievert
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Diagnostic Imaging, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 258c, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 258c, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beckmann
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Diagnostic Imaging, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 258c, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Patrick R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Kircher
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Diagnostic Imaging, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 258c, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Carrera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D004675:Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D066244:Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: dog; magnetic resonance spectroscopy; tick-borne encephalitis