Skip to main content
PMC home page
Elsevier - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Elsevier - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 2004 Sep 23;107(4):411–425. doi: 10.1016/0021-9975(92)90015-M

Feline non-suppurative meningoencephalomyelitis. A clinical and pathological study

A-L Lundgren 1,∗
PMCID: PMC7130315  PMID: 1291589

Abstract

A spontaneous neurological disease in cats characterized by behavioural and motor disturbances was investigated by clinical, morphological and immunological methods. Neuropathological examination showed a marked inflammatory reaction in the cerebral leptomeninges and the grey matter of the brain. In the white matter, the reaction was moderate. The changes consisted of perivascular cuffing by mononuclear cells and neuronal damage. The brain stem (thalamus, mesencephalon, caudal colliculus) was most severely affected. The spinal cord and its leptomeninges were involved to a lesser degree. The histopathological picture as well as the laboratory findings suggests a viral cause of the disease. The morphology of the disease and serological as well as immunohistochemical results indicate that this disorder is different from previously known feline viral encephalitides.

References

  1. Appel M., Sheffy B.E., Percy D.H., Gaskin J.M. Canine distemper virus in domesticated cats and pigs. American Journal of Veterinary Research. 1974;35:803–806. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Barlough J.E., Summers B.A. Encephalitis due to feline infectious peritonitis virus in a twelve-week-old kitten. Feline Practice. 1984;14:43–46. [Google Scholar]
  3. Blythe L.L., Schmitz J.A., Roelke M., Skinner S. Chronic encephalomyelitis caused by canine distemper virus in a Bengal tiger. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 1983;183:1159–1162. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Borland R., McDonald N. Feline encephalomyelitis. British Veterinary Journal. 1965;121:479–483. doi: 10.1016/s0007-1935(17)40956-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Burgess E.C. Experimental inoculation of dogs with Borrelia burgdorferi. Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie, Mikrobiologie und Hygiene (A) 1986;263:49–54. doi: 10.1016/s0176-6724(86)80102-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Csiza C.K., de LaHunta A., Scott F.W., Gillespie J.H. Spontaneous feline ataxia. Cornell Veterinarian. 1972;62:300–322. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Daubney R., Mahlau E.A. Near-Eastern equine encephalomyelitis. Nature (London) 1957;179:584–585. doi: 10.1038/179584a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Dow C., McFerran J.B. Aujeszky's disease in the dog and cat. Veterinary Record. 1963;75:1099–1102. [Google Scholar]
  9. Dow S.W., Poss M.L., Hoover E.A. Feline immunodeficiency virus: a neurotropic lentivirus. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. 1990;3:658–668. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Fenner W.R. The neurologic evaluation of patients. In: Ettinger S.J., editor. 3rd Edit. Vol. 1. W. B. Saunders Co; Philadelphia: 1989. pp. 549–577. (Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine). [Google Scholar]
  11. Flir K. Encephalomyelitis bei Grosskatzen. Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift. 1973;80:401–404. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Greene C.E., Scott F.W. Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. W. B. Saunders Co; Philadelphia: 1990. Feline panleukopenia; pp. 291–299. [Google Scholar]
  13. Greene R.T. Lyme borreliosis. In: Greene C.E., editor. Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. W. B. Saunders Co; Philadelphia: 1990. pp. 508–514. [Google Scholar]
  14. Gutter A., Wells S., Baskin G. Neurologic disease in three cats at the Audubon Park Zoo. In: Fowler M.E., editor. Proceedings, Annual meeting, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians; Tampa, Florida, October 24–27; 1983. [Google Scholar]
  15. Hirth R.S., Nielsen S.W. Pathology of feline toxoplasmosis. Journal of Small Animal Practice. 1969;10:213–221. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-5827.1969.tb04041.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Hoff E.J., Vandevelde M. Non-suppurative encephalomyelitis in cats suggestive of a viral origin. Veterinary Pathology. 1981;18:170–180. doi: 10.1177/030098588101800204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Ihlenburg H. Experimentelle Prufung der Empfänglichkeit der Katze fur das Virus der Bornaschen Krankheit. Archiv für Experimentelle Veterinärmedizin. 1966;20:859–864. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Keane D.P., Parent J., Little P.B. California serogroup and Powassan virus infection of cats. Canadian Journal of Microbiology. 1987;33:693–697. doi: 10.1139/m87-121. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Kornegay J.N. Feline infectious peritonitis: the central nervous system form. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. 1978;14:580–584. [Google Scholar]
  20. Kronevi T., Nordström M., Moreno W., Nilsson P.O. Feline ataxia due to nonsuppurative meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown aetiology. Nordisk Veterinärmedicin. 1974;26:720–725. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Krum S., Johnson K., Wilson J. Hydrocephalus associated with the noneffusive form of feline infectious peritonitis. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 1975;167:746–748. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Kunz C., Hofmann H., Dippe H. Die Frühdiagnose der Frühsommermeningoenzephalitis (FSME) im Hämagglutinationshemmungstest durch Behandlung des Serums mit 2-Mercaptoäthanol. Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene (A) 1971;218:273–279. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Leestma J.E. Viral infections of the nervous system. In: Davis R.L., Robertson D.M., editors. Textbook of Neuropathology. 2nd Edit. Williams and Wilkins; Baltimore: 1991. pp. 804–903. [Google Scholar]
  24. Legendre A.M., Whitenack D.L. Feline infectious peritonitis with spinal cord involvement in two cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 1975;167:931–932. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Luttrell C.N., Bang F.B. Newcastle disease encephalomyelitis in cats. Archives of Neurology and Psychiatry. 1958;79:647–657. doi: 10.1001/archneurpsyc.1958.02340060043005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. McGaughey C.A. Infectious myelitis of cats: preliminary communication. Ceylon Veterinary Journal. 1953;1:38–40. [Google Scholar]
  27. Martin L.A., Hintermann J. Sur l'existence, au Maroc, d'une maladie contagieuse du Chat, non encore décrite: La Myélite infectieuse. Bulletin de l'Academie Véterinaire de France. 1952;25:387–392. [Google Scholar]
  28. Melchior G. Meningo-enzephalitis beim Löwen und Tiger. In: Ippen, Schröder, editors. Erkrankungen der Zootiere, Verhandlungsbericht des XV. Akademie-Verlag; Berlin: 1973. pp. 245–254. (Internationalen Symposiums uber die Erkrankungen der Zootiere). [Google Scholar]
  29. Pedersen N.C. Feline infectious peritonitis: something old, something new. Feline Practice. 1976;6:42–51. [Google Scholar]
  30. Pedersen N.C. Feline infectious peritonitis virus infection. In: Pratt P.W., editor. Feline Husbandry: Diseases and Management in the Multiple-Cat Environment. American Veterinary Publications; Goleta: 1991. pp. 196–206. [Google Scholar]
  31. Pedersen N.C. Feline leukemia virus infection. In: Pratt P.W., editor. Feline Husbandry: Diseases and Management in the Multiple-Cat Environment. American Veterinary Publications; Goleta: 1991. pp. 210–222. [Google Scholar]
  32. Pedersen N.C. Feline herpesvirus type-1 infection. In: Pratt P.W., editor. Feline Husbandry: Diseases and Management in the Multiple-Cat Environment. American Veterinary Publications; Goleta: 1991. pp. 187–193. [Google Scholar]
  33. Salvioli G., Gotti D., Sternini G. Effetti polimorfi nel gatto da inoculazione di materiale poliomielitico. Rivista dell'Istituto Sieroterapico Italiano. 1952;27:225–245. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Slauson D.O., Finn J.P. Meningoencephalitis and panophthalmitis in feline infectious peritonitis. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 1972;160:729–734. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Sottiaux J., Pialat J. Méningo-encéphalite associée a une infection FeLV chez un chat. Pratique médicale et chirurgicale de l'Animal de Compagnie. 1989;24:635–643. [Google Scholar]
  36. Sparger E.E. Feline immunodeficiency virus. In: August J.R., editor. Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine. W. B. Saunders Co; Philadelphia: 1991. pp. 543–550. [Google Scholar]
  37. Sternberger L.A. 2nd Edit. John Wiley & Sons Inc; New York: 1979. (Immunocytochemistry). [Google Scholar]
  38. Ström B. Vingelsjuka hos katt (“Staggering disease” in the cat). Fördjupningsarbete. Svensk Veterinärtidning. 1992;44:19–24. [Google Scholar]
  39. Truyen U., Stockhofe-Zurwieden N., Kaaden O.R., Pohlenz J. A case report: encephalitis in lions. Pathological and virological findings. Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift. 1990;97:89–91. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Vandevelde M., Braund K.G. Polioencephalomyelitis in cats. Veterinary Pathology. 1979;16:420–427. doi: 10.1177/030098587901600404. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Comparative Pathology are provided here courtesy of Elsevier

RESOURCES