Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with symmetrical brain damage caused by mitochondrial disorder
By Dell'Era, Elena et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2021·AniCura Portoni Rossi Veterinary Hospital, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Selective symmetrical necrotizing encephalopathy secondary to primary mitochondrial disorder in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old female cat was brought in for worsening neurological symptoms, which included issues with coordination and balance. MRI scans revealed multiple areas in her brain that were damaged, and further tests showed problems with her brain's structure at a cellular level. Unfortunately, these findings pointed to a serious condition related to her mitochondria, the energy-producing parts of her cells. Despite the diagnosis, the specific treatment options for this type of brain disorder are limited, and the cat's condition was severe.
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Abstract
A 2-year-old female cat was referred for progressive neurological signs indicative of involvement of the prosencephalon, cerebellum, and brainstem. Magnetic resonance imaging identified multifocal, bilateral, symmetrical lesions with strong contrast enhancement, affecting multiple areas of the brain. Neuropathology at necropsy showed demyelination, necrotic lesions, spongiosis, and neuropil edema with reactive astrogliosis and neovascularization. Ultrastructural study indicated mitochondrial polymorphism. Genetic investigations outlined 2 polymorphisms within the tRNA-Leugene of mitochondrial DNA. Imaging and neuropathological findings were consistent with selective symmetrical necrotizing encephalopathy, for which genetic investigations support mitochondrial pathogenesis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34291836/