Felipedia

Polio in cats (Feline non-suppurative meningoencephalomyelitis)

Feline non-suppurative meningoencephalomyelitis (feline polioencephalomyelitis, staggering disease) is a slowly progressive, inflammatory disease of the CNS in domestic cats. It has been reported in North America, Europe, and Australia. The cause is unknown, but an infectious agent, probably a Borna virus, is strongly suspected. The disease causes neuronal degeneration, axonal loss, and demyelination with mononuclear inflammation, most severe in the thoracic segments of the spinal cord. The clinical course is marked by progressive paraparesis of 1-2 mo duration, often with focal hyperesthesia, head tremor, and behavioural changes. Antemortem diagnosis is difficult. There is no treatment, and the prognosis is poor.

Meningoencephalomyelitis

Unlike Polio in cats, feline meningoencephalitis is most frequently a result of known infections, including FIP virus and toxoplasmosis. In a recent histological review of tissues from 286 cats with neurological disorders, 32% had inflammatory and/or infectious lesions affecting the central nervous system. Of these, 51% had FIP, 36% had non-specific encephalitis or meningitis, 9% had protozoal tissue cysts ( Toxoplasma spp) and 1% had Cryptococcus. Other reported causes include FIV, mycosis, immune-mediated and extension of bacterial infection from inner or middle ear.

Diagnosis prior to death can be difficult. CSF analysis is historically the principal test used for diagnosis of intracranial inflammatory conditions. Although increased CSF white cell count and protein concentration can occur secondary to other pathological conditions such as neoplasia, animals with confirmed CNS inflammation rarely have normal CSF, hence it is a sensitive but not specific test. In animals with CNS signs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used before CSF collection, adding more information about location of lesions, if any.