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CASE REPORT article

Front. Vet. Sci.

Sec. Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery

Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1630662

This article is part of the Research TopicCase Reports in Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery, Volume IIView all 8 articles

Case Report: Meningoencephalomyelitis of Unknown Origin in Foxes (Vulpes vulpes and Vulpes lagopus): Insights into the Diagnostic Challenges in Carnivore Neurology

Provisionally accepted
Natalie SteinerNatalie Steiner1*Martin DembowskiMartin Dembowski2Florian Richard MoeselakenFlorian Richard Moeselaken3Monica MiroloMonica Mirolo4Martin LudlowMartin Ludlow4Julie-Ann DierigJulie-Ann Dierig1Manon MikićManon Mikić5Antja WatananguraAntja Watanangura5Reiner UlrichReiner Ulrich2Christina PuffChristina Puff3Michael PeesMichael Pees1Jasmin Nicole NesslerJasmin Nicole Nessler5
  • 1Department of Small Mammal, Reptile and Avian Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hannover, Germany, Hannover, Germany
  • 2Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany, Leipzig, Germany
  • 3Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hannover, Germany, Hannover, Germany
  • 4Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hannover, Germany, Hannover, Germany
  • 5Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hannover, Germany, Hannover, Germany

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Emerging diseases in wildlife pose significant diagnostic challenges, with increasing evidence that not all cases of inflammatory diseases can be directly attributed to infectious pathogens. This case series shows the results of clinical examination, magnetic resonance imaging, and necropsy results of two foxes, a silver fox (Vulpes vulpes) and a polar fox (Vulpes lagopus), with non-suppurative meningoencephalomyelitis. Extensive diagnostics, including pathogen screening and next-generation sequencing, failed to identify a definitive causative infectious agent. These cases suggest the possibility of an immunopathologic disease, highlighting the need for immunological assessments in wildlife disease investigations.

Keywords: Diagnostic challenges, non-infectious meningoencephalomyelitis, Immune-mediated disease, Wildlife Health, case report

Received: 18 May 2025; Accepted: 22 Jul 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Steiner, Dembowski, Moeselaken, Mirolo, Ludlow, Dierig, Mikić, Watanangura, Ulrich, Puff, Pees and Nessler. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Natalie Steiner, Department of Small Mammal, Reptile and Avian Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hannover, Germany, Hannover, Germany

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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