The validity of cerebrospinal fluid cytology for the verification of meningoencephalitis in cats and dogs

Cytological analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF, synonym: liquor) is one of the most important tests in verifying the diagnosis of meningoencephalitis. Inflammation of the brain and its membranes has a high etiology, with both infectious and autoimmune origins. Neuroinfections enter the brain via hematogenous, cerebrospinal fluid, and contact routes. Based on the patient's medical history, neurological examination, and imaging findings, it is possible to predict the type of inflammatory process. However, this information is often insufficient to establish a definitive diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging, a visual diagnostic method, can provide information on the presence, extent, and location of inflammatory foci in the central nervous system, but it does not always help determine the type of inflammatory process. In animals in which the etiology of meningoencephalitis remains unclear after the above examinations, cerebrospinal fluid analysis is performed to confirm or rule out the presence of abnormal cytosis and other significant changes. CSF analysis may also be necessary to assess the effectiveness of therapy in cases of established neuroinfection. Therapeutic approaches to treating immune-mediated and infectious meningoencephalitis differ, which is why cerebrospinal fluid analysis is one of the most important diagnostic criteria in interpreting the inflammatory process in the central nervous system. The aim of this work is to conduct a cytological study of cerebrospinal fluid in order to verify meningoencephalitis in small domestic animals.