Spinal Fluid Collection Technique from the Atlanto-occipital Space in Pigs

D’Angelo, Antonio; Bellino, Claudio; Miniscalco, Barbara; Capucchio, Maria Teresa; Biolatti, Cristina; Cagnasso, Aurelio

doi:10.2754/avb200978020303

Acta Veterinaria > Archive > 2009, Vol. 78 > Issue 2 > Spinal Fluid Collection Technique from…

Acta Vet. Brno 2009, 78: 303-305

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb200978020303

Spinal Fluid Collection Technique from the Atlanto-occipital Space in Pigs

Antonio D’Angelo¹, Claudio Bellino¹, Barbara Miniscalco¹, Maria Teresa Capucchio², Cristina Biolatti¹, Aurelio Cagnasso¹

¹Department of Animal Pathology - Clinical Section,
²Department of Animal Pathology - Pathology Section, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy

Received April 3, 2008
Accepted February 9, 2009

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis has an important role in the diagnosis of neurologic diseases. A technique for collecting CSF from the atlanto-occipital space in 20 pigs (body mass 150-160 kg) is described and the CSF values are reported. CSF was relatively easily collected from the cerebellomedullary space in all animals. The protein concentration and total cell count of CFS samples ranged from 20 to 32 mg/dl and from 2 to 15 cells/μl, respectively. Mononuclear cells were the predominant cellular type; a variable proportion of two different cell populations (monocytoid cells and lymphocytes) was observed.