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- Findings and outcomes of goats with discospondylitis
Background: Vertebral infections like discospondylitis and vertebral osteomyelitis are uncommon in goats, with limited information mostly from necropsy reports. The study aimed to describe the clinical findings and outcomes of goats with these infections evaluated using computed tomography (CT).
Methods: This was a retrospective case series involving five goats diagnosed with vertebral osteomyelitis, septic physitis, and discospondylitis through CT. Data collected included signalment, clinical signs, neurologic examination findings, clinicopathologic results, diagnostic imaging results, treatment, and outcome.
Results: The goats primarily presented with progressive weakness, paresis, and recumbency, with common clinical findings including leukocytosis, mature neutrophilia, and hyperfibrinogenemia. The most affected vertebrae were C7-T1. All goats had discospondylitis, with or without vertebral osteomyelitis and septic physitis, and four exhibited spinal cord compression on CT. Treatment included antimicrobials, physical therapy, analgesia, and supportive care for four goats, while one was euthanized at diagnosis. All treated goats regained ambulatory ability and survived to hospital discharge.
Limitations: The study was limited by its retrospective nature, small sample size, and lack of a standardized treatment protocol.
Conclusions: Despite severe imaging findings, goats with discospondylitis, septic physitis, and vertebral osteomyelitis can successfully return to ambulatory function with appropriate treatment. Further studies are needed to determine optimal treatment regimens.
Sagittal computed tomographic images in a bone algorithm of 5 goats with vertebral infection. (A) Severe osteolysis centered on the caudal physeal region of T12 (arrowhead), supporting a diagnosis of septic physitis, with mild lysis of the caudal endplate, as well as the T13 cranial endplate, indicative of concurrent discospondylitis. Centered on this region, there was a large fluid-cavitated mass, likely representing an abscess associated with severe spinal cord compression (Goat 1). (B) Severe multifocal osteolysis of the opposite endplates of C3-C4, C7-T1 and T2-T3 in Goat 2 with intervertebral disc narrowing (arrowheads). (C) Near complete lysis and collapse (compression fracture) of C7 (bracket) with lysis of the opposing C6 and T1 vertebral endplates (arrowheads), as well as C3-C4, indicative of discospondylitis (Goat 3). (D) Near complete lysis and collapse (compression fracture) of C7 (bracket) with lysis of the opposing C6 and T1 vertebral endplates (arrowheads), indicative of discospondylitis (Goat 4). (E) Near complete lysis and collapse (compression fracture) of T4 (bracket) with severe lysis of the caudal T3 and cranial T5 endplates (arrowheads) compatible with discospondylitis (Goat 5). Moderate kyphosis with peripheral distribution of multifocal mineralization at the fracture site is associated with moderate to severe narrowing of the vertebral canal.
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