2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

CSF samples from 175 pure or mixed breed dogs were submitted to Colorado State University (www.dlab.colostate.edu) from either the Washington State University Neurology Department between January 2012 and September 2014 or the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital between January 2012 and September 2015. The CSF samples were stored at À80°C until evaluated in this study. Dogs with neurologic examinations consistent with focal and multifocal neurologic dysfunction and CSF pleocytosis (total nucleated cell count >5 nucleated cells/µL and red blood cell <4,000 cells/µL) were included. Animals with normal neurologic examinations were also included if their CSF met our criteria. The CSF was thawed and centrifuged at 10,000 X g for 15 minutes. The supernatant was removed and the pellet assayed in a previously published PCR assay that targets the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic region. All positive amplicons were sequenced to determine the infective Bartonella spp.