Evaluation of haematological, serum biochemical and cerebrospinal fluid parameters in experimental bacterial meningoencephalitis in the dog

摘要

To evaluate the effects of bacterial meningoencephalitis on blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters, an experiment was conducted with eight Iranian crossbred dogs. Blood and CSF samples were collected once before the administration of bacteria for obtaining control values. Following the injection of Escherichia coli k12 into the CSF from the atlantooccipital space, samples were collected, and clinical signs of meningoencephalitis were observed. Blood and CSF samples were obtained from the meningoencephalitis group at 2, 4 and 6 days post-infection. Following the induction of meningoencephalitis, the number of white blood cells and the percent and absolute number of neutrophils significantly increased (P<0.05). However, the percent and absolute numbers of lymphocyte and eosinophil significantly decreased (P<0.05). Moreover, the number of platelet, monocyte, red blood cells, haemoglobin, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration had no significant change (P>0.05). The concentrations of glucose and activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) in serum significantly increased (P<0.05). Cell numbers and the concentrations of total protein, cholesterol and inorganic phosphorus and the activities of AST, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), LDH and CK in CSF increased significantly (P<0.05). In contrast, the concentration of glucose in CSF decreased significantly (P<0.05). Furthermore, the concentration of CSF calcium did not change significantly (P>0.05). This study showed that bacterial meningoencephalitis could have profound effects on blood and CSF parameters that enable robust diagnosis to be reached.