A recent study published in The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science has provided new insight into the prevalence and types of neurological disorders affecting cats in Japan. This large-scale survey, conducted at the Kyoto Animal Referral Medical Center between 2009 and 2016, documented the localizations and frequencies of various neurological diseases in a population of 276 cats. The findings of this retrospective study have significant implications for veterinary neurology and the care of feline patients.
The study, led by primary author Yuya Nakamoto, aimed to determine the localization of lesions in each case and retrospectively classify disease etiologies. The breakdown of cases included 174 with brain lesions, 14 with cervical cord region lesions, 34 with thoracolumbar cord region lesions, and 54 with peripheral neuromuscular region lesions. This distribution underlines a higher prevalence of brain diseases compared to spinal cord and peripheral neuromuscular diseases in cats.
In the brain region, idiopathic epilepsy and intracranial tumors were among the conditions with the highest morbidity rates, whereas spinal cord infarction was observed frequently in the cervical cord region. Both spinal cord infarction and tumors were prevalent in the thoracolumbar cord region, and peripheral vestibular dysfunction, often resulting from otitis media/interna, was common in the peripheral neuromuscular region.
The study highlights that idiopathic and neoplastic diseases are particularly prevalent in the brain region of cats, pointing to the need for further research into these conditions. Additionally, the high incidence of vascular diseases in the spinal cord region and infectious diseases in the peripheral neuromuscular region provides valuable information for veterinarians when diagnosing and treating feline patients.
While there have been various reports summarizing neurological disorders in cats, many have focused only on a limited number of disease groups, and only one has taken a histopathological perspective. Nakamoto and colleagues’ study stands out by considering a broad range of conditions and a substantial population size.
Such comprehensive surveys are crucial in advancing understanding of feline neurological disorders and can guide the development of better diagnostics, management, and treatment strategies for these conditions. They also provide a reference point for veterinarians globally and can be compared to similar studies in different regions to identify geographical variations in disease prevalence.
The complete study is accessible through the DOI: 10.1292/jvms.18-0447, with the full reference listed as:
Nakamoto Y., Uemura T., Hasegawa H., Nakamoto M., Ozawa T. (2019). Feline neurological diseases in a veterinary neurology referral hospital population in Japan. The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 81(6), 879-885.
To further explore the topic, here are five suggested references that provide additional context and detail:
1. Marioni-Henry, K., Vite, C. H., Newton, A. L., & Van Winkle, T. J. (2004). Prevalence of diseases of the spinal cord of cats. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 18, 851-858. DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2004.tb02632.x
2. Gonçalves, R., Platt, S. R., Llabrés-Díaz, F. J., Rogers, K. H., de Stefani, A., Matiasek, L. A., Adams, V. J. (2009). Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings in 92 cats with clinical signs of spinal cord disease. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 11, 53-59. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2008.05.001
3. Negrin, A., Cherubini, G. B., Lamb, C., Benigni, L., Adams, V., Platt, S. (2010). Clinical signs, magnetic resonance imaging findings and outcome in 77 cats with vestibular disease: a retrospective study. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 12, 291-299. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2009.10.001
4. Pákozdy, A., Leschnik, M., Sarchahi, A. A., Tichy, A. G., Thalhammer, J. G. (2010). Clinical comparison of primary versus secondary epilepsy in 125 cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 12, 910-916. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2010.07.001
5. Volk, H. A., Shihab, N., Matiasek, K. (2011). Neuromuscular disorders in the cat: clinical approach to weakness. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 13, 837-849. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2011.09.005
For veterinarians, pet owners, and researchers, this study underscores the importance of neurological evaluations and the need for a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment. As feline medicine continues to evolve, such substantial data sets will remain an indispensable tool for improving the health and quality of life for cats with neurological diseases.
Keywords
1. Feline Neurological Disorders
2. Veterinary Neurology
3. Cat Brain Diseases
4. Feline Spinal Cord Diseases
5. Japan Veterinary Medicine