Feline spongiform encephalopathy

Feline spongiform encephalopathy (FSE) is a disease that affects the brains of felines. It is caused by proteins called prions.[1] FSE is thought to be related or identical to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).[2][3] This disease is known to affect domestic and captive feline species.[4] This infectious agent might be spread by both haematogenous and nervous pathways.[5] Like BSE, this disease can take several years to develop. It is probable, but not proven, that the affected animals contract the disease by eating contaminated bovine meat.[6]

Clinical signs

Ataxia was observed to last for about 8 weeks in the affected animals. The ultimate result is death of the infected animals.[2]

Diagnosis

This disease can only be confirmed at the post-mortem, which includes identification of bilaterally symmetrical vacuolation of the neuropil and vacuolation in neurones. Lesions are likely to be found in basal ganglia, cerebral cortex and thalamus of the brain.

Treatment

This is a terminal condition and there is currently no specific treatment for the disease.[2]

Epidemiology

This disease was first reported in domestic cats within the United Kingdom in 1990.[7][4] Since 1990, cases have been reported in other countries and other feline species in captivity, although most affected felines originated in the UK.[8]

References
  1. Iulini, B.; Cantile, C.; Mandara, M. T.; Maurella, C.; Loria, G. R.; Castagnaro, M.; Salvadori, C.; Porcario, C.; Corona, C.; Perazzini, A. Z.; Maroni, A.; Caramelli, M.; Casalone, C. (September 2008). "Neuropathology of Italian cats in feline spongiform encephalopathy surveillance". Veterinary Pathology. 45 (5): 626–633. doi:10.1354/vp.45-5-626. PMID 18725465.
  2. "Feline spongiform encephalopathy (FSE)". Provet Healthcare Information. October 2013. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  3. Bencsik, Anna; Debeer, Sabine; Petit, Thierry; Baron, Thierry; Mabbott, Neil (7 September 2009). "Possible case of maternal transmission of feline spongiform encephalopathy in a captive cheetah". PLoS ONE. 4 (9): e6929. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006929. PMC 2732902. PMID 19738899.
  4. Eiden, M.; Hoffmann, C.; Balkema-Buschmann, A.; Muller, M.; Baumgartner, K.; Groschup, M. H. (21 July 2010). "Biochemical and immunohistochemical characterization of feline spongiform encephalopathy in a German captive cheetah". Journal of General Virology. 91 (11): 2874–2883. doi:10.1099/vir.0.022103-0. PMID 20660146.
  5. Lezmi, Stephane; Bencsik, Anna; Monks, Eoin; Petit, Thierry; Baron, Thierry (1 May 2003). "First case of feline spongiform encephalopathy in a captive cheetah born in France: PrPsc analysis in various tissues revealed unexpected targeting of kidney and adrenal gland". Histochemistry and Cell Biology. 119 (5): 415–422. doi:10.1007/s00418-003-0524-5. PMID 12783238.
  6. "Mad Cow Disease and Cats". College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University. 15 Nov 2006.
  7. "ARCHIVE: BSE: Other TSEs". Archived from the original on 2012-08-17. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  8. Imran, Muhammad; Mahmood, Saqib (1 November 2011). "An overview of animal prion diseases". Virology Journal. 8 (1). doi:10.1186/1743-422X-8-493. PMC 3228711. PMID 22044871.


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