European tick-borne meningoencephalitis in dogs in Germany: Two case reports

European tick-borne meningoencephalitis was diagnosed in two dogs from southern Germany. Initially, the dogs exhibited elevated body temperature and acute neurologic disease with depressed mentation, tetraparesis, seizures, vestibular strabism and facial sensory deficits pointing towards cervical spinal cord, brainstem and forebrain disease. Lower motor neuron paresis and cervical muscle weakness were features of the disease in both dogs. CSF examination showed elevated protein concentration and mononuclear pleocytosis. High FSME antibody concentrations were demonstrated in serum and CSF by ELISA. The specifity of the ELISA was confirmed by virus neutralization test, hemagglutination test and immunoblot in serum and CSF of both dogs. The neurologic disease resolved completely in one dog. The second dog showed some initial improvement, but severe lower motor neuron paresis of the thoracic limbs persisted.