EUROPEAN TICK-BORNE MENINGOENCEPHALITIS I N DOGS IN GERMANY - 2 CASE-REPORTS

European tick-borne meningoencephalitis was diagnosed in two dogs from southern Germany. Initially, the dogs exhibited elevated body tempera ture and acute neurologic disease with depressed mentation, tetrapares is, seizures, vestibular strabism and facial sensory deficits pointing towards cervical spinal cord, brainstem and forebrain disease. Lower motor neuron paresis and cervical muscle weakness were features of the disease in both dogs. CSF examination showed elevated protein concent ration and mononuclear pleocytosis. High FSME antibody concentrations were demonstrated in serum and CSF by ELISA. The specifity of the ELIS A was confirmed by virus neutralization test, hemagglutination test an d immunoblot in serum and CSF of both dogs. The neurologic disease res olved completely in one dog. The second dog showed some initial improv ement, but severe lower motor neuron paresis of the thoracic limbs per sisted.