Magnetic resonance imaging appearance of the brain and cervical spinal cord in an edema disease affected pig

Abstract

A 7-week-old male pig was presented with signs of a central nervous system disorder. An MRI of the head and cervical spine was performed immediately after euthanasia. The MRI revealed multifocal bilaterally symmetric T2-weighted hyperintense lesions in the brain and spinal cord, likely due to a toxic metabolic process. Histopathological examination supported the MRI findings and confirmed the diagnosis of edema disease due to Shiga-like toxin produced by Escherichia coli. This is the first case published of the MRI findings in an edema disease affected pig.