Wyatt J M, Pearson G R, Smerdon T N, Gruffydd-Jones T J, Wells G A, Wilesmith J W
Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Bristol, School of Veterinary Science, Langford.
Vet Rec. 1991 Sep 14;129(11):233-6. doi: 10.1136/vr.129.11.233.
Naturally occurring transmissible spongiform encephalopathies have been recognised in sheep, man, mink, captive deer and cattle. Recently a similar disease was reported in a domestic cat. This paper describes the clinical and pathological findings in five cats with similar signs, including further observations on the original case. All the cats had a progressive, neurological disease involving locomotor disturbances, abnormal behaviour and, in most cases, altered sensory responses. Histopathological examination of the central nervous system revealed changes pathognomonic of the scrapie-like encephalopathies, including widespread vacuolation of the grey matter neuropil, vacuolation of neuronal perikarya and an astrocytic reaction.
