Page 1216 - Veterinary Immunology, 10th Edition

equine adenovirus-1 has been isolated from its lesions, so the cause
VetBooks.ir is complex. Because of the severe nerve damage,

immunosuppressive or antiinflammatory therapy is rarely
successful. Neuritis of the cauda equina has also been reported in a

dog.

Canine Polyneuritis

Canine polyneuritis or coonhound paralysis affects dogs following

a bite or scratch from a raccoon. It presents as an ascending
symmetrical flaccid paralysis with mild sensory impairment. The
bitten limb is usually affected first, but the disease is progressive
and will worsen for 10 to 12 days following the bite. In severe cases,
the dog may develop flaccid quadriplegia and lose the ability to

swallow, bark, or breathe. The disease is, however, self-limiting,
and if respiration is not impaired, the prognosis is good. Dogs
usually recover completely. Affected nerves show demyelination

and axonal degeneration with macrophage infiltration. An acute
polyneuritis similar to coonhound paralysis has also been described
following vaccination of dogs with rabies or other vaccines.
Coonhound paralysis and post-vaccinal polyneuritis both closely
resemble Guillain-Barré syndrome in humans. This syndrome may

follow upper respiratory tract infection, gastrointestinal disease, or
even vaccination. It is mediated by autoantibodies against
peripheral nerve glycolipids. Management of Guillain-Barré

syndrome requires plasmapheresis and administration of
intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG). Veterinarians treating canine
polyneuritis have traditionally administered corticosteroids, but
their effectiveness is unclear.

Steroid-Responsive Meningitis-Arteritis

Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) is characterized by
inflammation of the meningeal arteries and cervical meningitis.
Two different forms of the disease are recognized. In the acute

form, affected dogs show anorexia, fever, lameness, and listlessness
followed by progressive cervical rigidity; hyperesthesia along the
vertebral column; generalized, cervical, or spinal pain; ataxia;

1216