Computed tomographic images of discospondylitis in a calf

Abstract

A 2-month-old male Japanese Black calf was presented with a 30-day history of progressive ataxia. Antemortem examination using computed tomography (CT) revealed narrowing of the disc spaces due to destruction of intervertebral structures between the first and second thoracic vertebrae and between the second and third thoracic vertebrae. Osteolysis was evident as irregular hypoattenuating lesions within the opposing end plates of the first, second and third thoracic vertebrae. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected as the causative bacteria, and discospondylitis was diagnosed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first bovine case report describing the application of CT for the diagnosis of discospondylitis.

Fig. 1.

Lateral radiograph of the cervical-thoracic vertebrae. Osteolysis is evident in the caudal part of the end plate of the first thoracic vertebra. Osteolytic changes cause reduced length of the second thoracic vertebra. Bar=25 mm.

Fig. 2.

Transverse computed tomography of the thoracic vertebra. (A) An oval-shaped focal lesion is evident at the center of the caudal part of the end plate of the first thoracic vertebra. (B) The hypoattenuating lesion has destroyed the ventral edge of the cranial part of the end plate of the second thoracic vertebra. No bony proliferation is apparent in the first or second thoracic vertebrae. Bar=10 mm.

Fig. 3.

Sagittal reconstructed computed tomography (A) and gross appearance (B) of the cervical-thoracic vertebrae. A deeply concave osteolytic lesion, showing hypoattenuation on CT, is filled with dark-red necrotic material within the caudal part of the end plate of the first thoracic vertebra. Osteolysis is grossly evident within the cranial and caudal parts of the end plate of the second thoracic vertebra, which appears as a shortened vertebral body with irregular edges at either end on CT. Bar=10 mm.

Fig. 4.

Histopathology of the cranial end plate of the second thoracic vertebral bone. The bony architecture is replaced by severe inflammatory cells. These cells mainly consist of neutrophils and spindle-shaped fibroblastic cells (inset). The remaining cartilaginous tissue of the vertebra is located at the lower right. Bar=200 µm.