Neurological disorder in a male llama originated by an abscedative myositis

Abstract

Background: Early diagnosis of neurological conditions in South American Camelids is crucial for treatments, prognosis and clinical patient development. Infectious agents, parasite, nutritional conditions or trauma, can cause neurological symptoms in camelids. Behavioral particularities can produce late infections and should be considered in differential diagnosis in clinical neurological cases. Case description: A 4-year-old male llama was attended for consultation for a limp in his left hind leg. On clinical examination no general nor hind leg problems were found. After a week of the first consultation he presented an acute disorder to move. A complete neurological exam detected paraplegia with decreased deep sensation and hyporeflexia in the hind limbs were found. Complete blood work analysis and radiographs were performed, a moderate anemia and leucocytosis was detected and, radiographs suggested osteomyelitis on the spinal process in the third lumbar vertebra. Anti-inflammatory and antibiotic treatment with florfenicol was chosen and used at a dose of 20 mg/kg intramuscularly. The male llama died two weeks after the first sign appeared. At postmortem examination the most relevant lesion was a severe inflammatory infiltration delimited with connective tissue in the lumbar muscles, compatible with an abscedative myositis, Enterococcus spp. was isolated in the culture from the lesion. Conclusion: To the authors knowledge this is the first report of a secondary and late infection produced as a consequence of aggressive behavior between males and should be consider as a differential diagnose in neurological disorders in these species.