Severe myelopathy with thrombophlebitis caused by Gurltia paralysans infection in a cat

Abstract

Gurltia paralysans is an uncommon neuroparasite that affects domestic cats in South America. The authors herein report a case of an adult male domestic cat with a three-month history of progressive hindlimb paralysis. Neuroanatomical evaluation indicated compromise of the thoracolumbar and lumbosacral spinal cord segments. An authorised euthanasia was performed because of the guarded prognosis. Postmortem examination findings included leptomeningeal vein congestion and varicose veins, especially in the T9-T13 spinal cord segments. One male and 11 female adult G paralysans nematodes were recovered from the spinal subarachnoid veins of the affected areas. Histopathological examination revealed dilatation and congestion of several leptomeningeal vessels and parasitic eggs within both nematodes and intravenous thrombi. Several mononuclear inflammatory cells surrounded a mineralised section of nematodes in the meningeal space. Feline gurltiosis should be considered as an important differential diagnosis in cats with neurological signs secondary to thoracolumbar and/ or lumbosacral spinal cord lesions.