SAEVA Congress 2018 Proceedings | 12-15 February 2018 | ATKV Goudini Spa
Collection of CSF in horses. Johnson et al. 13-20
Analysis of CSF in horses. Johnson et al. 21-26
1. The normal range of values measured in cerebrospinal fluid:
Parameter Range
Color Colorless
Clarity Clear
Glucose 55-70 mg/dl
Total protein 40-80 mg/dl
Creatine kinase 0-8 IU
Bacterial culture No growth
Viral culture No growth
Nucleated cell count 0-3/µl
cells)
(small
mononuclear
2. Technique:
CSF is generally collected from the sub-arachnoid space at one of 2 sites in
the horse – the atlanto-occipital site or the lumbosacral site. In both cases,
the procedure should be done in sterile fashion.
a. Atlanto-occipital collection
Advantages: easier to obtain fluid than from the LS site, less likely to get blood
contamination
Disadvantages: requires general anesthesia, greater risk to the patient
18 or 20 gauge 3.5 inch spinal needle; neonatal foals – a 20 gauge 1.5
inch needle may be used
Procedure: lateral recumbency
An area of the poll and neck (from between the ears to six or eight inches
caudally, and approximately three to four inches either side of the mane) is
surgically prepared. The horse’s head is flexed so that the median axis of
the head is at right angles to the median axis of the cervical vertebrae.
(Such flexion of the atlanto-occipital joint can result in upper airway
obstruction.)
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