Journal article

Publication year: 2015

Pages: 135-140

Journal: Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

Volume number: 46

Issue number: 1

ISSN: 1042-7260

eISSN: 1937-2825

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1638/2013-0307R2.1

Publisher: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians

Abstract: 
Magnetic resonance imaging was performed on a 15-yr-old captive female California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) with a 2-wk history of progressive paraparesis and a 9-mo history of exudative skin lesion on the left thoracic wall. Magnetic resonance images showed a well-defined muscle infiltrating lesion ventrolateral to the seventh cervical to the third thoracic vertebra on the left side, which extended through the left intervertebral foramina C7 to T3 into the vertebral canal, causing spinal cord compression and displacement as well as inflammation of the spinal cord and nerves. This lesion surprisingly caused no forelimb deficits. Differential diagnoses included abscess formation or neoplasia. Pathologic examination revealed chronic focal purulent meningitis associated with widespread paraspinal fistulous inflammation originating from a chronic dermal ulcer. Mainly Escherichia coli var. haemolytica and Clostridium perfringens were identified as the underlying agents.

Harvard Citation style: Braun, V., Eskens, U., Hartmann, A., Lang, B., Kramer, M. and Schmidt, M. (2015) FOCAL BACTERIAL MENINGITIS FOLLOWING ASCENDING BITE WOUND INFECTION LEADING TO PARAPARESIS IN A CAPTIVE CALIFORNIA SEA LION (ZALOPHUS CALIFORNIANUS), Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 46(1), pp. 135-140. https://doi.org/10.1638/2013-0307R2.1

APA Citation style: Braun, V., Eskens, U., Hartmann, A., Lang, B., Kramer, M., & Schmidt, M. (2015). FOCAL BACTERIAL MENINGITIS FOLLOWING ASCENDING BITE WOUND INFECTION LEADING TO PARAPARESIS IN A CAPTIVE CALIFORNIA SEA LION (ZALOPHUS CALIFORNIANUS). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 46(1), 135-140. https://doi.org/10.1638/2013-0307R2.1