2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

These preliminary findings suggest that pNF-H in CSF is a sensitive and specific disease marker for DM. These data warrant further study of pNF-H in CSF and serum for diagnosis of disease and longitudinal monitoring of therapeutic efficacy in DM. Juvenile onset seizures are defined as seizures starting prior to 12 months of age for this study. The aims of this study were to 1) identify the common etiology and 2) describe the outcome (dead or alive) in cats with juvenile onset seizures. Inclusion criteria were 1) a confirmed or suspected seizure before 12 months of age and 2) complete medical records including a final diagnosis. The diagnosis was reclassified for each cat according to the 2010 ILAE guidelines. Fifteen cats met the inclusion criteria. Median age at onset was 24 weeks (range, 0.4 -40 weeks). Six cats (40%) were diagnosed with structural epilepsy, 5 cats (33%) were diagnosed with unknown epilepsy, and 4 cats (26%) were diagnosed with reactive seizures. Generalized seizures were documented in 9 cats, 4 cats had focal seizures and 2 cats had both focal and generalized seizures. Six cats (40%) had cluster seizures, and status epilepticus was documented for 1 cat. Overall 8 cats (53%) were alive, 6 cats were dead and 1 cat was lost to follow up. (Follow up 16 -173 months after diagnosis) Three cats died, or were euthanized, secondary to seizures or the underlying diagnosis and 3 cats died or were euthanized unrelated to their seizures or seizure diagnosis and 1 cat died due to unknown causes. Primary genetic epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures in dogs, reportedly affecting 0.5-5.7% of the population. There have been several investigations regarding the serum concentrations of trace nutrients, including copper, selenium, zinc, manganese, and iron in human epileptics and animal models. However, no research of this nature is available in dogs with primary genetic epilepsy. This is a prospective pilot study, designed to compare the serum concentrations of several trace nutrients in non-epileptic dogs compared to dogs with epilepsy.