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Dazzi, C.C.; Santos, A.; Machado, T.P.; Atide, M.W.; Rodriguez, R.; Pereira, A.M.; Garcia, P.S.; Motta, A.C.
First case report of nematode parasitic myelopathy in a wild feline in Brazil
2020 Braz J Vet Parasitol (29): 1-6
Parasitic myelopathy caused by _Gurltia paralysans_ in domestic cats is a disease commonly reported in several South American countries. The adult parasite is lodged in the meningeal veins and spinal cord, often causing clinical manifestations of vascular proliferation, thrombophlebitis, and medullary compression. Wild felines are believed to be the definitive hosts of this parasite. The infection occurs through the ingestion of paratenic hosts, but the life cycle of _G. paralysans _is not yet clearly understood. In this paper, we discuss a case of parasitic myelopathy in a margay (_Leopardus wiedii_) that died during postsurgical care. Necropsy revealed focal hemorrhages in the thoracolumbar spinal cord. A microscopic examination revealed adult nematodes and eggs inside the veins of subarachnoid space in spinal cord, suggesting _G. paralysans_ infection. This is the first description of parasitic myelopathy in a Margay in Brazil.
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