Infectious diseases of the central nervous system

Abstract

Neurologic disease is seen commonly in cats, with infectious causes accounting for 30-45% of cases. However, since a specific infection cannot be identified in 12-40% of these cases, it is essential that we try to understand these cases better in the hope that we can eventually identify the cause(s), and so determine how best to treat and/or prevent them.

Results of magnetic resonance imaging in 14 cats with meningoencephalitis

“…In our study, MR imaging (MRI) did not appear to detect all cases of CNS inflammation in the population of cats with inflammatory cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); however, MRI adds information about the sites and morphology of intracranial lesions that should help to distinguish between neoplasia and inflammatory conditions and, possibly, between different inflammatory conditions. M eningoencephalitis in cats is most frequently associated with infections, including feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and toxoplasmosis (Foley et al 1998, Gunn-Moore 2005. In a recent histological review of tissues from 286 cats with neurological disorders, 92 (32%) had inflammatory and/or infectious lesions affecting the central nervous system (CNS) (Bradshaw et al 2004).…”

Slowly progressive lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalomyelitis in 21 adult cats presenting with peculiar neurological signs

“…17 Detection in the CNS of BDV by immunohistochemistry or of BDV RNA by in situ hybridization, or both, in combination with the clinical and histological findings is considered the most reliable method of confirming BDV meningoencephalomyelitis. 17,21 'Staggering disease' has been reported to affect males more frequently than females, 6,15 while no gender predisposition was observed in the cats included in our study. In a study on 25 cats with 'staggering disease', the mean age at diagnosis was 4.8 years (range 1-12 years) 14 and a recent review article on BDV in Sweden reports an age at diagnosis of 1-4 years in most cats.…”

“…5 Other known aetiologies of feline meningoencephalomyelitis are uncommon and include viruses such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), feline parvovirus (FPV), pseudorabies of cats with inflammatory CNS disease other than FIP (35-40%) are found to have histopathological changes consistent with lymphohistiocytic (non-suppurative) meningoencephalomyelitis. 6 This is characterised by perivascular and parenchymal infiltration with lymphocytes, monocytes and plasma cells, usually associated with meningitis and, occasionally, with inflammation of the choroid plexus and the ependyma. 5 Lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalomyelitis is usually suggestive of viral infection; however, the causative agent is often not identified.…”

Feline Epilepsy: An update

“…The most common cause of meningoencephalitis in cats is feline coronavirus, the etiological agent of feline infectious peritonitis (De Risio et al, 2012). Other known etiologies of feline meningoencephalitis are uncommon and include viruses such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline parvovirus, pseudorabies virus/ porcine herpesvirus 1, rabies virus, Borna disease virus, West Nile virus, encephalomyocarditis virus, and protozoal, bacterial, rickettsial, fungal and parasitic agents (Gunn Moore, 2005;Schwab et al, 2007). In a large number of feline cases with central nervous disease, histopathological changes consistent with lymphohistiocytic (non-suppurative) meningoencephalitis are found (Schwab et al, 2007).…”

“…Although, lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalitis is usually suggestive of viral infection, the causative agent is often not identified (De Risio et al, 2012). In lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalitis of unknown origin the clinical signs appear at a young age (2 years or less), and the progression is no longer than a couple of weeks (Gunn Moore, 2005;Rand et al, 1994). De Risio (2012) presented different evidence regarding the disease.…”