Suspected cervical spinal cord vascular anomaly in an African warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)

J Zoo Wildl Med. 2006 Sep;37(3):393-6. doi: 10.1638/04-085.1.

Abstract

Vascular myelopathies of the spinal cord have not been described in Suidae, and are a rare finding in companion animals. An 8.5-yr female African warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) presented with an acute onset of tetraparesis. Based on neurologic findings, a cervical spinal cord lesion between C7-T2 was suspected. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed severe intramedullary hemorrhage with suspected abnormal vessels in the spinal cord at the level of the seventh cervical vertebrae. The acute onset of clinical signs and rapid deterioration of neurological status precluded surgical managements. A vascular anomaly was suspected on gross pathology and histology. Immunohistochemistry identified the lesion as a spontaneous intramedullary hematoma. Spontaneous intramedullary hematomyelia should be considered as a differential for acute onset of paresis in suid species.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cervical Vertebrae / abnormalities
  • Cervical Vertebrae / blood supply
  • Cervical Vertebrae / surgery
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Hematoma / diagnosis
  • Hematoma / surgery
  • Hematoma / veterinary*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary*
  • Paresis / etiology
  • Paresis / veterinary
  • Spinal Cord / abnormalities*
  • Spinal Cord / blood supply*
  • Spinal Cord / surgery
  • Swine