TY - JOUR
T1 - Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin in dogs under veterinary referral care in England (2017–2021): a multicenter case control study
AU - Choi, Yeonsoo
AU - O’Neill, Dan G.
AU - Ives, Edward
AU - Brown, Thomas Harcourth
AU - Lopes, Bruno A.
AU - Alves, Lisa Cardoso
AU - Cardy, Thomas
AU - Ruggeri, Marco
AU - Tauro, Anna
AU - Cherubini, Giunio Bruto
AU - Lowrie, Mark
AU - Saunders, Louisa
AU - Granger, Nicolas
AU - Stefaniuk, Maria
AU - Cappello, Rodolfo
AU - Trevail, Raquel
AU - Adamantos, Sophie
AU - Gonçalves, Rita
AU - De Decker, Steven
AU - Fadda, Angela
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2025 Choi, O’Neill, Ives, Brown, Lopes, Alves, Cardy, Ruggeri, Tauro, Cherubini, Lowrie, Saunders, Granger, Stefaniuk, Cappello, Trevail, Adamantos, Gonçalves, De Decker and Fadda.
PY - 2025/11/26
Y1 - 2025/11/26
N2 - Background: A considerable body of published research on meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) exists; however, certain fundamental aspects relating to the epidemiology remain poorly characterized. These include the frequency of MUO diagnosis at referral level, reliable demographic risk factors, and the extent to which proposed diagnostic criteria are applied in referral clinical settings. Methods: Based on 1,121 MUO cases (from 01 January 2017 to 31 December 2021) treated at 13 referral centers in England and 750,000 control dogs from the VetCompass Programme, this study investigated a range of demographic risk factors using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Additionally, we report on clinical methods used for diagnosis. Results: Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin represented 2.21% (95% CI: 2.08–2.34) of new neurological referrals (1,121/50721). Clinical diagnosis included both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis in 1026 (91.5%) cases. Of these, 961 (89.3%) showed results indicative of MUO in both MRI and CSF. Abnormal MRI but normal CSF were found in 55 cases (5.4%), while normal MRI and abnormal CSF were found in 36 cases (3.5%). Both normal MRI and normal CSF were reported in 19 cases (1.5%). Screening for infectious disease was carried out in 1037 (92.5%) of cases. The diagnosis of MUO peaked at 4 years (median 4.33, IQR 2.50–6.92, range 0.30–15.00) and declined after age 10. Welsh Springer Spaniel (OR 23.76, 95% CI 10.37–54.43), Maltese (OR 20.53, 95% CI 14.53–29.01), Papillon (OR 17.48, 95% CI 7.66–39.91), Boston Terrier (OR 17.31, 95% CI 11.17–26.82), and French Bulldog (OR 9.14, 95% CI 7.14–11.71) had the highest MUO odds compared to crossbreed dogs. Brachycephalic breeds had 2.56 times higher odds (95% CI 2.23–2.95) than mesocephalic breeds. Dogs ≥15 kg had lower odds than those
AB - Background: A considerable body of published research on meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) exists; however, certain fundamental aspects relating to the epidemiology remain poorly characterized. These include the frequency of MUO diagnosis at referral level, reliable demographic risk factors, and the extent to which proposed diagnostic criteria are applied in referral clinical settings. Methods: Based on 1,121 MUO cases (from 01 January 2017 to 31 December 2021) treated at 13 referral centers in England and 750,000 control dogs from the VetCompass Programme, this study investigated a range of demographic risk factors using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Additionally, we report on clinical methods used for diagnosis. Results: Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin represented 2.21% (95% CI: 2.08–2.34) of new neurological referrals (1,121/50721). Clinical diagnosis included both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis in 1026 (91.5%) cases. Of these, 961 (89.3%) showed results indicative of MUO in both MRI and CSF. Abnormal MRI but normal CSF were found in 55 cases (5.4%), while normal MRI and abnormal CSF were found in 36 cases (3.5%). Both normal MRI and normal CSF were reported in 19 cases (1.5%). Screening for infectious disease was carried out in 1037 (92.5%) of cases. The diagnosis of MUO peaked at 4 years (median 4.33, IQR 2.50–6.92, range 0.30–15.00) and declined after age 10. Welsh Springer Spaniel (OR 23.76, 95% CI 10.37–54.43), Maltese (OR 20.53, 95% CI 14.53–29.01), Papillon (OR 17.48, 95% CI 7.66–39.91), Boston Terrier (OR 17.31, 95% CI 11.17–26.82), and French Bulldog (OR 9.14, 95% CI 7.14–11.71) had the highest MUO odds compared to crossbreed dogs. Brachycephalic breeds had 2.56 times higher odds (95% CI 2.23–2.95) than mesocephalic breeds. Dogs ≥15 kg had lower odds than those
KW - demographic risk
KW - meningoencephalitis
KW - encephalitis
KW - canine
KW - case control
U2 - 10.3389/fvets.2025.1710593
DO - 10.3389/fvets.2025.1710593
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
C2 - 41383969
SN - 2297-1769
VL - 12
JO - Frontiers in Veterinary Science
JF - Frontiers in Veterinary Science
M1 - 1710593
ER -
