Meroanencephaly in an English Pointer Neonate

Authors

  • Luisa Mariano Cerqueira da Silva Animal Pathology Department, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
  • Helena Piúma Gonçalves Veterinary Clinics Department, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS, Brazil
  • Thaís Cozza dos Santos Cardiology and Diagnostic Laboratory, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
  • Clarissa Caetano de Castro Animal Pathology Department, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS, Brazil
  • Cristina Gevehr Fernandes Animal Pathology Department, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS, Brazil http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0729-2099
  • Fabiane Borelli Grecco Animal Pathology Department, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS, Brazil http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3996-315X
  • Antonio Sergio Varela Junior Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, Brazil http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4901-5118
  • Carine Dahl Corcini Professora Associada Faculdade de Veterinária, UFPel http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5683-7801

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22456/1679-9216.99455

Abstract

Background: Malformations are structural or functional abnormalities in the organs and structures present at birth. These conditions are rarely described in the newborns of dogs and can lead to their death. Meroanencephaly is a defect of the neural tube closure malformation. This study aims to characterize the clinical-pathological aspects of neonatal meroanencephaly since brain malformations are rare in newborn dogs.

Case: A two-day-old English Pointer canine was sent for a necropsy. The newborn belonged to a litter of eight puppies, and only this one had macroscopic cranial alterations. Another puppy that died as a consequence of being trampled by the bitch was also necropsied. The newborn was alive for 48 h until death and presented apathy, crying, sucking reflex and opisthotonus. Macroscopic examination of the baby revealed flattening of the skull, with a slit at the site of bone symphysis fusion, and a slit in the skin of the parietal region, covered by thin, translucent meningeal tissue. The heads of the two animals were examined by radiography to identify the features of anencephaly in one of the animals by visualizing skull bone flattening. Upon removing the skin and exposing the cranial cavity, an irregular reddish mass was revealed, that corresponded microscopically to area cerebrovasculosa, composed of neurons, rudimentary glial tissue, vascular neoformations, as well as hemorrhagic areas.

Discussion: Meroanencephaly is a type of anencephaly, a congenital malformation originating from abnormal neurulation, which results from the absence of neural fold fusion during neural tube formation. Live-born anencephalics have some brainstem-driven functions such as spontaneous breathing and some reflex responses, for instance, suction. Several genetic or teratogenic factors, such as viruses, radiation, drugs administered during pregnancy and other pathologies transmitted from bitch to fetus, can lead to this defect. The reports on anatomopathological findings and the presence of area cerebrovasculosa are rare.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Casal M. 2016. Congenital and genetic diseases of puppies before the weaning: can we prevent them? In: VIII International Symposium on Canine and Feline Reproduction (Paris, France):46.

Copp A.J., Brook F.A., Estibeiro J.P., Shum A.S. & Cockroft D.L. 1990. The embryonic development of mammalian neural tube defects. Progress in Neurobiology. 35:363–403.

Copp A.J., Greene N.D. & Murdoch J.N. 2003. The genetic basis of mammalian neurulation. Nature Reviews Genetics. 4:784–793.

Dahmer D.A., Chiarentin D. & Voitena J.N. 2012. Anencefalia em cão: relato de caso. Revista Científica Eletrônica de Medicina Veterinária. 18:1-6.

Huisinga M., Reinacher M., Nagel S. & Herden C. 2010. Anencephaly in a German Shepherd Dog. Veterinary Pathology. 47(5) 948-951.

Leroy G. & Baumung R. 2011. Mating practices and the dissemination of genetic disorders in domestic animals, based on the example of dog breeding. Animal Genetics. 42: 66-74.

Lourenço M. L. G. 2015. Cuidados com neonatos e filhotes. In: Jericó M. M., Kogika M. M., De Andrade Neto J.P. Tratado de medicina interna de cães e gatos. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan. 2431p.

Moore K.L. & Pesaud T.V.N. 2004. Embriologia Clínica. 7ªed. São Paulo: Elsevier. 609p.

Nonato I.A., Ferreira M.R., Miranda J.L., Braz H.M.B. & Machado J.P. 2019. Cranioschisis and Anencephaly in a Dog - Challenging Etiology. Acta Scientiae Veterinariae. 47(Suppl 1): 449.

Peterson M.E. & Kutzler M. A. 2011. Small Animal Pediatrics. 1th ed. Saint Louis: Elsevier. 544p.

Pieri N., Souza A.F., Casals J.B., Roballo K., Ambrósio C.E. & Martins D.S. 2015. Comparative Development of Embryonic Age by Organogenesis in Domestic Dogs and Cats. Reproduction of Domestic Animals. 50(4):625-31.

Santos L.M.P. & Pereira M.Z. 2007. Efeito da fortificação com ácido fólico na redução dos defeitos do tubo neural. Caderno de Saúde Pública, Rio de Janeiro, 23(1):17-24.

Souza T.D., Mol J.P.S., Paixão T.A. & Santos R.L. 2017. Mortalidade fetal e neonatal canina: etiologia e diagnóstico. Revista Brasileira De Reprodução Animal. 40(2):639-649.

Veiga C.C.P., Souza B.G. & Vieira S.L., 2013. Avaliações prénatal ultrassonográfica e radiográfica no diagnóstico de anencefalia em cão - relato de caso. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária 35(2):101-4.

Wammes J.C.S, Filadelpho A.L., Birck, A.J., Peres, J.A., Pinto e Silva J.R.C. Guazzelli Filho J. & Barcelos R.P. 2013. Anencefalia, macroglossia e fenda labial em cão: Relato de caso. Revista Científica Eletrônica de Medicina Veterinária. 21:1-8.

Published

2020-01-01

How to Cite

Cerqueira da Silva, L. M., Piúma Gonçalves, H., dos Santos, T. C., de Castro, C. C., Fernandes, C. G., Grecco, F. B., Varela Junior, A. S., & Corcini, C. D. (2020). Meroanencephaly in an English Pointer Neonate. Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, 48. https://doi.org/10.22456/1679-9216.99455

Most read articles by the same author(s)