Figure 14-35.

Cerebellar Hypoplasia, Cerebellum, Cat.

In the cat, cerebellar hypoplasia (cerebellar hypoplasia, top specimen; normal cat, bottom specimen) most commonly is the result of in utero infection with feline panleukopenia virus (parvovirus). The virus infects and causes lysis of dividing cells in the external granule layer (on the outside of the cerebellum in the fetus). Because these cells are no longer available to migrate to form the granule layer, the cerebellum remains small.

(Courtesy Dr. Y. Niyo, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University; and Noah's Arkive, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia.)