Table 2.

Various CSF findings and the diseases associated most commonly with them

CSF finding	Description	Diseases
Lymphocytic pleocytosis	5 WBC/μl > 50% lymphocytes Increased protein	Rabies CNS lymphoma (lymphoblasts may be seen) Toxoplasmosis
Albuminocytologic dissociation	Increased protein with normal WBC count	Neoplasia Trauma
Mixed cell pleocytosis	>> 5 WBC/μl Mix of lymphocytes and large mononuclear phagocytes Variable neutrophils Increased protein	Fungal encephalitis (cryptococcosis, blastomycosis) Chronic FIP Infarction (mild)
Neutrophilic pleocytosis	> 5 WBC/μl Predominance of neutrophils Increased protein	Bacterial encephalitis (neutrophils are often degenerate) Fungal encephalitis FIP (often seen with marked increases in protein) Meningiomas Post severe seizure/status epilepticus
Eosinophilic pleocytosis	> 5 WBC/μ Predominance of eosinophils Increased protein	Aberrant parasitic migration Toxoplasmosis Cryptococcosis T cell lymphoma Rabies (rare)
Presence of intact RBC		Iatrogenic Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage Infarction
Xanthochromic CSF	Hemorrhage prior to CSF collection	Primary bleeding disorders/coagulopathies

WBC = white blood cell(s), RBC = red blood cells, FIP = feline infectious peritonitis, CSF = cerebrospinal fluid