spinal meningitis

meningitis /men·in·gi·tis/ (men″in-ji´tis) pl. meningi´tides   [Gr.] inflammation of the meninges.meningit´ic

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basilar meningitis  that affecting the meninges at the base of the brain.

cerebral meningitis  inflammation of the membranes of the brain.

cerebrospinal meningitis  inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord.

chronic meningitis  a variable syndrome of prolonged fever, headache, lethargy, stiff neck, confusion, nausea, and vomiting, with pleocytosis; due to a variety of infectious and noninfectious causes.

cryptococcal meningitis  cryptococcosis in which the meninges are invaded by Cryptococcus .

eosinophilic meningitis  meningitis characterized by an increase in lymphocytes and a high percentage of eosinophils in the cerebrospinal fluid, usually due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection.

epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis  meningococcal m.

meningococcal meningitis  an acute infectious, usually epidemic, disease attended by a seropurulent meningitis, due to Neisseria meningitidis, usually with an erythematous, herpetic, or hemorrhagic skin eruption.

occlusive meningitis  leptomeningitis of children, with closure of the lateral and median apertures of the fourth ventricle.

meningitis ossi´ficans  ossification of the cerebral meninges.

otitic meningitis  that secondary to otitis media.

spinal meningitis  inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord.

tubercular meningitis , tuberculous meningitis severe meningitis due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

viral meningitis  that due to a virus, e.g., coxsackieviruses, mumps virus, or the virus of lymphocytic choriomeningitis, marked by malaise, fever, headache and other aches, nausea, and cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis (mainly lymphocytic); it usually runs a short uncomplicated course.

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spinal meningitis

n.

Inflammation of the membranes enclosing the spinal cord, especially a usually fatal form that affects infants and young children and is caused by a strain of gram-negative bacteria (Hemophilus influenzae).

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spinal meningitis,

an inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord.

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meningitis

inflammation of the meninges. When the inflammatory process affects the dura mater, the disease is termed pachymeningitis; when the arachnoid and pia mater are involved, it is called leptomeningitis or meningitis proper. It is also classified as fibrinous, hemorrhagic, purulent or eosinophilic, depending on the principal reaction of the tissues.

The term meningitis does not refer to a specific disease entity but rather to the pathological condition of inflammation of the tissues of the meninges. The etiological agent can be anything that activates the inflammatory process, including both pathogenic and nonpathogenic organisms, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi; chemical toxins such as lead and arsenic; contrast media used in myelography; and metastatic malignant cells.

In animals there are no specific meningitides, most cases of meningitis occurring as secondary complications to other diseases and having a bacterial etiology. Clinical signs seen commonly include fever, cutaneous hyperesthesia and rigidity of the muscles of the neck and forelimbs. A cerebrospinal fluid tap should assist in the diagnosis.

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Beagle meningitis

see beagle pain syndrome.

Bernese Mountain Dog meningitis

an acute, aseptic nonsuppurative meningitis seen in young Bernese Mountain Dogs of unknown etiology.

cerebrospinal meningitis

an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord; it may be caused by many different organisms.

Pug meningitis

see Pug meningoencephalitis.

spinal meningitis

inflammation of the meninges of the spinal cord.

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spinal

pertaining to a spine or to the vertebral column and in many instances to the spinal cord.

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spinal abscess

infection may be introduced hematologically from navel infection to a vertebral body or up the vertebral canal from an infected docking wound. Clinically there is a development of paresis over a few days then paraplegia when the abscess is in the lumbar region or quadriplegia when it is located in the cervical area.

spinal accessory nerve

see accessory nerve, Table 14.

congenital spinal stenosis

stenosis of the vertebral canal present at birth; recorded in calves.

spinal fibrocartilaginous emboli

see fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy.

focal symmetrical spinal poliomalacia

see focal symmetrical spinal poliomalacia.

spinal fusion

surgical creation of ankylosis of contiguous vertebrae.

spinal meninges

see meninges.

spinal meningitis

usually part of cerebrospinal meningitis. May be local related to spinal cord abscess and cause localized pain and muscle rigidity.

spinal muscular atrophy

see hereditary spinal muscular atrophy, hereditary neuronal abiotrophy of Swedish Lapland dogs.

spinal myelitis

see myelitis.

spinal myelopathy

see myelopathy.

spinal nerve

any of the paired nerves arising from the spinal cord and passing out between the vertebrae.

spinal puncture

introduction of a hollow needle into the subarachnoid space of the spinal canal, usually for the purpose of collecting a sample of cerebrospinal fluid, to introduce radiopaque material for myelography, or the injection of an anesthetic.

spinal reflex

any reflex action mediated through a center at the spinal cord.

spinal stenosis

see spinal cord compression (above).

spinal tap

see spinal puncture (above).

spinal trauma

temporary or permanent dislocation of one or more spinal vertebrae; or fracture; causes immediate flaccid paralysis caudal to injury due to spinal shock, followed by residual signs due to damage to spinal cord tissue.

spinal walking

see reflex walking.