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Vet Pathol 45:626-633 (2008)
© 2008 American College of Veterinary Pathologists
DIAGNOSTIC PATHOLOGY

Neuropathology of Italian Cats in Feline Spongiform Encephalopathy Surveillance

B. Iulini, C. Cantile, M. T. Mandara, C. Maurella, G. R. Loria, M. Castagnaro, C. Salvadori, C. Porcario, C. Corona, A. Z. Perazzini, A. Maroni, M. Caramelli and C. Casalone

Centro Encefalopatie Animali, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino (BI, CM, CP, CCo, AZP, MCar, CCas), Department of Animal Pathology, University of Pisa, Pisa (CCan, CS), Department of Biopathological Veterinary Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia (MTM), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Palermo (GRL), Department of Public Health, Comparative Pathology and Veterinary Hygiene, University of Padova, Padova (MCas), Italian Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy (AM)

Abstract

Feline spongiform encephalopathy (FSE) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy associated with the consumption of feedstuffs contaminated with tissue from bovine spongiform encephalopathy-affected cattle and characterized by the accumulation in the central nervous system of an abnormal isoform of the prion protein (PrPsc). Clinically, it presents as a progressive fatal neurologic syndrome that is not easily distinguished from other feline neurologic conditions. Most cases of FSE have been reported in England, where it was first detected in 1990, but a few cases have been reported from other European countries. To identify possible cases of FSE in Italy, the Italian Ministry of Health funded a 2-year surveillance project during which the brains from 110 domestic cats with neurologic signs were evaluated histologically for spongiform encephalopathy and immunohistochemically to detect PrPsc. Although no cases of FSE were found, the study proved useful in monitoring the Italian cat population for other neurologic diseases: neoplasia (21.8%), toxic-metabolic encephalopathy (18.2%), granulomatous encephalitis (15.5%), suppurative encephalitis (4.6%), trauma (3.6%), circulatory disorders (3.6%), degeneration (2.7%), nonsuppurative encephalitis (2.7%), and neuromuscular diseases (1.8%). No histologic lesions were found in 20% of the brains, and samples from 5.5% of the cats were rejected as unsuitable.

Key words: Brain; cats; epidemiology; histology; prion diseases; prions.

Request reprints from Dr. C Cristina, CEA – Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino (Italy). E-mail: cristina.casalone{at}izsto.it






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