Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Slowly worsening brain inflammation causing stiff tail and walking
By De Risio, Luisa et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2012·Neurology/Neurosurgery Service, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Slowly progressive lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalomyelitis in 21 adult cats presenting with peculiar neurological signs.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 21 adult cats, mostly around 9 years old, showed unusual neurological symptoms like a stiff tail, changes in behavior, and difficulty walking. These cats lived in the same rural area in northeast Scotland and had outdoor access. After thorough testing, veterinarians found evidence of a condition called lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalomyelitis, which affects the brain and spinal cord. The exact cause is still unknown, but it may be linked to an unidentified infection or environmental factor. The cats experienced a slow progression of symptoms over about 11 months.
People also search for: cat neurological signs stiff tail · cat behavior changes · cat walking problems · lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalomyelitis in cats · cat brain disease symptoms
Abstract
Twenty-one cats presented with a history of slowly progressive neurological signs characterised by a stiff extended tail, behavioural changes, and spastic and ataxic gait. All cats had outdoor access and lived in the same geographical rural area in north-east Scotland. Histological findings were consistent with lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalomyelitis. Immunohistochemistry ruled out 15 pathogens and showed a significant expression of the interferon-inducible Mx protein, suggesting an as yet unidentified infective or environmental immunogenic trigger as the possible causative agent. The late age at onset (mean 9 years), the very slow progression of clinical signs (mean 11 months) and the peculiar clinical presentation (particularly the posture of the tail) have not been reported previously in cats with lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalomyelitis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22412162/