Feline spongiform encephalopathy

FELINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY
  • First reported in England in 1990
  • Transmission due to consumption of bovine offals from cattle affected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy
  • Older cats are affected
  • Clinical signs mainly – neurological signs – behavioural changes, tremors and ataxia
  • Microscopically – diffuse spongiform changes in the grey matter characterized by cytoplasmic vacuolation of the neuropil and within neurons
  • Fibrils and modified prion proteins identified in affected brains
Last modified: Monday, 19 March 2012, 6:33 AM