FELINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY

Naturally occurring transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) ha ve been identified in several species including sheep, mink, captive d eer, cattle, and humans. In 1990 a similar disease was recognised in a domestic cat in England.1 These diseases are characterised clinically by progressive locomotor and behavioural abnormalities which are unre sponsive to therapy. Diagnosis depends upon histopathological examinat ion of central nervous tissues after death. The presence of widespread grey matter neuropil vacuolation, neuronal vacuolation, and a glial r eaction are pathognomonic of the TSE. In addition, the demonstration o f scrapie-associated fibrils (SAF) and PrP (known both as protease res istant protein and as prion protein) are often also of diagnostic valu e.2