Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and skull of sheep with cerebral coenurosis

Maria L. Manunta Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.

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Maria A. Evangelisti Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.

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Giovanni P. Burrai Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.

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Nicolò Columbano Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.

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Ciriaco Ligios Istituto Zooprofilattico della Sardegna, via Duca degli Abruzzi 8, 07100 Sassari, Italy.

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Antonio Varcasia Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.

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Antonio Scala Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.

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Eraldo Sanna Passino Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.

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Abstract

Objective—To determine MRI characteristics of the skulls and brains of sheep with chronic cerebral coenurosis (CC) caused by naturally acquired Taenia multiceps infection.

Animals—33 sheep with CC and 10 healthy control sheep.

Procedures—Sheep underwent MRI of the head. Volumes of the cranial cavity and rostral and caudal fossas of the cranial cavity were determined. For CC-affected sheep, the number, location, and volume of T multiceps cysts were determined and the percentage volumes of cysts in the cranial cavity and rostral and caudal fossas of the cranial cavity were calculated. Focal and diffuse abnormalities of cranial bones in CC-affected sheep were identified. Brain edema and hemorrhage and signs of increased cranial pressure (ICP) in MRI images were determined.

Results—Volumes of the cranial cavity and rostral and caudal fossas of the cranial cavity were significantly larger for CC-affected sheep versus healthy control sheep. Total volumes of cysts ranged from 4.40% to 46.93% in cranial cavities of sheep, 4.12% to 51.53% in rostral fossas of cranial cavities of sheep, and 15.24% to 68.30% in caudal fossas of cranial cavities of sheep. Moderate to severe diffuse cranial bone abnormalities and signs of increased ICP in MRI images were detected in 21 and 24 sheep, respectively, and were positively correlated with cyst volumes.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that cranial cavity volume and morphological abnormalities can be detected in sheep with CC. These changes may reflect abnormalities in ossification of the cranial bones secondary to chronically increased ICP caused by development of T multiceps cysts.

Abstract

Objective—To determine MRI characteristics of the skulls and brains of sheep with chronic cerebral coenurosis (CC) caused by naturally acquired Taenia multiceps infection.

Animals—33 sheep with CC and 10 healthy control sheep.

Procedures—Sheep underwent MRI of the head. Volumes of the cranial cavity and rostral and caudal fossas of the cranial cavity were determined. For CC-affected sheep, the number, location, and volume of T multiceps cysts were determined and the percentage volumes of cysts in the cranial cavity and rostral and caudal fossas of the cranial cavity were calculated. Focal and diffuse abnormalities of cranial bones in CC-affected sheep were identified. Brain edema and hemorrhage and signs of increased cranial pressure (ICP) in MRI images were determined.

Results—Volumes of the cranial cavity and rostral and caudal fossas of the cranial cavity were significantly larger for CC-affected sheep versus healthy control sheep. Total volumes of cysts ranged from 4.40% to 46.93% in cranial cavities of sheep, 4.12% to 51.53% in rostral fossas of cranial cavities of sheep, and 15.24% to 68.30% in caudal fossas of cranial cavities of sheep. Moderate to severe diffuse cranial bone abnormalities and signs of increased ICP in MRI images were detected in 21 and 24 sheep, respectively, and were positively correlated with cyst volumes.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that cranial cavity volume and morphological abnormalities can be detected in sheep with CC. These changes may reflect abnormalities in ossification of the cranial bones secondary to chronically increased ICP caused by development of T multiceps cysts.

Contributor Notes

Address correspondence to Dr. Manunta (lmanu@uniss.it).
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