Astrovirus-Associated Polioencephalomyelitis in an Alpaca.

An 8-year-old alpaca was admitted to the emergency service of the Clinic for Ruminants in Bern due to a reduced general condition and progressive neurological signs. Despite supportive treatment, its condition deteriorated and the animal had to be euthanized. Histopathological analysis revealed a severe non-suppurative polioencephalomyelitis with neuronal necrosis, most likely of viral origin.

Hemostatic risk factors in ischemic stroke.

The role played by hemostasis in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke is still controversial. In the present study, we looked for a possible association of ischemic stroke and high clotting activity of factor II (FII:C), factor V (FV:C), factor VII (FVII:C), factor X (FX:C) and fibrinogen. We investigated 157 non-anti-coagulated patients (86 males, 71 females; median age 41 y, range 16-73 ), who had survived ischemic stroke for at least 2 months, and 193 healthy controls with similar age and sex distribution (104 males, 89 females; median age 39 y, range 19-74).