Granulomatous meningoencephalitis (GME) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) of dogs and, rarely, cats. The disease is more common in female toy dogs of young and middle age. It has a rapid onset. The cause is only known to be noninfectious. A diagram showing the CNS: 1. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris (Linnaeus, 1758) The dog is a canine mammal of the Order Carnivora. ... Trinomial name Felis silvestris catus (Linnaeus, 1758) This article is about the domestic cat. ...

Types of GME

• Ocular - This is an uncommon form of GME and is characterized by sudden blindness caused by optic neuritis. It eventually spreads to other parts of the CNS.
• Focal - The disease presents as a granuloma, which mimics a tumor. It usually is found in the cerebrum or cerebellopontine angle.
• Disseminated - This is a diffuse disease throughout the CNS. Meningitis is seen with this form of GME and causes fever and neck pain.

Optic neuritis is the inflammation of the optic nerve that may cause a complete or partial loss of vision. ... In medicine (anatomical pathology), a granuloma is a group of epithelioid macrophages surrounded by a lymphocyte cuff. ... For other articles about other subjects named brain see brain (disambiguation). ... Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes (meninges) covering the brain and the spinal cord. ...

Diagnosis and treatment

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis shows a large number of white blood cells, especially monocytes and neutrophils. A CT scan or MRI will show patchy, diffuse, or multifocal lesions. Symptoms include seizures, cranial nerve disorders, weakness, and change in behavior. Treatment is with immunosuppressive drugs such as corticosteroids, azathioprine, and cyclophosphamide. Procarbazine can also be used. Treatment with radiation therapy gives the longest periods of remission, but the condition is rarely cured. The animal usually dies within a few months. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear bodily fluid that occupies the subarachnoid space in the brain (the space between the skull and the cerebral cortex—more specifically, between the arachnoid and pia layers of the meninges). ... White blood cells (also called leukocytes or immune cells) are a component of blood. ... MONOCYTES: Plural of monocyte. ... Neutrophil granulocytes (commonly referred to as neutrophils) are a class of white blood cells and are part of the immune system. ... CAT apparatus in a hospital Computed axial tomography (CAT), computer-assisted tomography, computed tomography, CT, or body section roentgenography is the process of using digital processing to generate a three-dimensional image of the internals of an object from a large series of two-dimensional X-ray images taken around... The mri are a fictional alien species in the Faded Sun Trilogy of C.J. Cherryh. ... This article is about the medical term, epileptic seizure, as distinct from psychogenic non-epileptic seizure. ... Cranial nerves are nerves which start directly from the brainstem instead of the spinal cord. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... In physiology, corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. ... Azathioprine is a chemotherapy drug, now rarely used for chemotherapy but more for immunosuppression in organ transplantation and autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease or Crohns disease. ... Cyclophosphamide is a nitrogen mustard alkylating agent, used to treat various types of cancer and some autoimmune disorders. ... Procarbazine (Matulane®) is a chemotherapy drug for the treatment of Hodgkins lymphoma. ... Clinac 2100 C accelerator Radiation therapy (or radiotherapy) is the medical use of ionising radiation as part of cancer treatment to control malignant cells (not to be confused with radiology, the use of radiation in medical imaging and diagnosis). ... Remission is the state of absence of disease activity in patients with known chronic illness. ...

Pug Dog encephalitis

Pug Dog encephalitis (PDE) is a chronic form of GME. It is also known as necrotizing meningoencephalitis. It differs in pathology from GME by more tissue breakdown and increased eosinophils. The disease may be inherited in Pugs, Maltese, and Yorkshire Terriers. The most common early symptoms are seizures and dementia, and later circling, head tilt, and nystagmus may be seen. Corticosteroids may improve symptoms, but the dog almost always dies from the disease. Pathology (from Greek pathos, feeling, pain, suffering; and logos, study of; see also -ology) is the study of the processes underlying disease and other forms of illness, harmful abnormality, or dysfunction. ... Eosinophils are white blood cells that are responsible for combating infection by parasites in the body. ... The Pug is a small but robust toy dog breed with a compressed, wrinkly face. ... The Yorkshire Terrier, also known as a Yorkie, is a breed of small dogs, one of many toy dog breeds. ... For other senses of this word, see dementia (disambiguation). ... Look up Nystagmus in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Nystagmus is rapid involuntary rhythmic eye movement, with the eyes moving quickly in one direction (quick phase), and then slowly in the other (slow phase). ...

Other types of noninfectious meningoencephalitis

Steroid-responsive meningoencephalitis is any noninfectious meningoencephalitis that responds well to corticosteroids and usually has an excellent prognosis. This could represent mild forms of GME or PDE, but there are two separate conditions recognized also. In physiology, corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. ... Prognosis (older Greek πρόγνωσις, modern Greek πρόγνωση - literally fore-knowing, foreseeing) is a medical term denoting the doctors prediction of how a patients disease will progress, and whether there is chance of recovery. ...

• Steroid-responsive meningitis/arteritis is seen most commonly in Beagles, Boxers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and German Shorthaired Pointers younger than two years of age. Many cases have severe neck pain without other neurologic symptoms. CSF analysis shows predominately neutrophils.
• Eosinophilic meningoencephalomyelitis is seen mainly in Golden Retrievers. CSF analysis shows predominately eosinophils.

A Beagle is a medium-sized dog breed and a member of the hound group, similar in appearance to a Foxhound but smaller with shorter legs, and with longer, softer ears. ... Boxers are a breed of stocky, medium-sized, short-haired dog with a smooth fawn or brindled coat and square-jawed muzzle. ... Common nicknames Berner Country of origin Switzerland Classification and breed standards The Bernese Mountain Dog (also called Berner Sennenhund or Bouvier Bernois) is a versatile cattle-herding or farm dog originating in the canton of Berne in Switzerland. ... The German Shorthaired Pointer is a breed of dog developed in the 1800s in Germany for hunting. ... Neutrophil granulocytes (commonly referred to as neutrophils) are a class of white blood cells and are part of the immune system. ... The Golden Retriever is a relatively modern and very popular breed of dog. ... Eosinophils are white blood cells that are responsible for combating infection by parasites in the body. ...

See also

• Encephalitis
• Meningitis

Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain, commonly caused by a viral infection. ... Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes (meninges) covering the brain and the spinal cord. ...

References

• Chrisman, Cheryl; Clemmons, Roger; Mariani, Christopher; Platt, Simon (2003). Neurology for the Small Animal Practitioner(1st ed.). Teton New Media. ISBN 1-893441-82-2
• Ettinger, Stephen J.;Feldman, Edward C.(1995).Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine(4th ed.). W.B. Saunders Company. ISBN 0-7216-6795-3