Presentation
Presents with azotemia identified on bloodwork. More lameness on left pelvic limb in the last 3 weeks, stiff and rigid on physical exam.
Patient Data
On lateral images of the spine, there are multiple areas of lysis of vertebral endplates centered on intervertebral disc spaces (C3-4, T4-11, L3-4, L6-S1). The vertebral endplates have varying degrees of sclerosis surrounding the lysis, and many have extensive spondylosis deformans. Other vertebral segments have smooth and remodeled spondylosis deformans.
Discospondylitis.
The ultrasonographic image of the caudal abdominal aorta shows a hyperechoic intraluminal thrombus with peripheral arterial flow on color Doppler. The thrombus extended to the left iliac artery. The left kidney has poor corticomedullary distinction and is hyperechoic at the caudal pole.
Intravascular thrombus and degenerative renal change.
Case Discussion
Urine cultures produced Aspergillus sp, and serology revealed high titers for Brucella canis. Both of these agents can cause discospondylitis. Hyperglobulinemia and proteinuria were present. Blood cultures were negative. Chronic renal change may be due to systemic infection or systemic thrombosis.
The lameness in the pelvic limb was from ischemia secondary to the thrombus. The aortic thrombus may be due chronic infection and hypercoagulability.
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