Tick-Borne Encephalitis in a Dog

An 8 year old retriever presented with vomiting and lameness. This progressed to multifocal forebrain and brainstem signs. A tick had been removed 7 days earlier.

MRI showed bilateral symmetrical lesions affecting predominantly the thalamus and substantia nigra which were mildly hyperintense in T2W and FLAIR to gray matter, isointense in T1W, and without contrast uptake.

Given the history of a tick bite and lesion distribution of the lesion, TBE was suspected and confirmed via positive antibody titre in the CSF.

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MRI findings in TBE has been described with bilateral and symmetrical gray matter distributed lesions involving the thalamus, hippocampus, brainstem, basal nuclei and ventral horn of the spinal cord being a common feature together with the lack of contrast enhancement.

To read about MRI characteristics and the neurological aspects of TBE, click on the links below.

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