Case 2010-9

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Muscular dystrophy Veterinary Pathology

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Case 2010-9CASE SUMMARY

domestic cats (most female) on a study

42/45 developed signs of spinal cord disease

(not an investigation of neurologic disease)

severity of signs varied

post mortem examinations:

(a)Institution A

(b)Cornell

Material submitted: 1. H&E section of the spinal cord

2010-9

2010-9

LFBCEV GFAP

BIELSCHOWSKY

LECTIN sWGA IDENTIFIES THE MACROPHAGES

TWO QUESTIONS

1. Morphologic diagnosis 2. Etiology

TWO QUESTIONS

1. Morphologic diagnosis – spinal cord leukomyelopathy2. The etiology involves irradiation – what was irradiated?

TWO QUESTIONS

1. Morphologic diagnosis – spinal cord leukomyelopathy2. The etiology involves irradiation – what was irradiated?

The food.

This feline leukomyelopathy is caused by the consumption ofdry food that has been irradiated.

LEUKOMYELOPATHY (LM) IN CATSYear seen or Where Number of

published clinical cases

………………………………………………………………………….

1996 USA (Cornell) 42 (F)

2007 UK/Ireland 190 (M&F)

2009 USA (Wisconsin) ? (F)

2009 Australia 87 (M&F)

…………………………………………………………………………..

SUMMARY

Male and female cats

3 mo to 15 yr of age

Most domestic breed; few Siamese, Burmese, etc

(apparently not a common ancestry)

WHY IRRADIATE FOOD?To prevent contamination of a specific-pathogen-free environment.To reduce microbiological contamination and so prevent spoilage and increase shelf life.

WHAT DOES IRRADIATION DO?Gamma irradiation results (among other effects) in the production ofions and free radicals which can kill or damage pathogenic organismsin food. This reduces the use of fungicides, other chemicals, etc.

GAMMA IRRADIATION OF FOOD

CatRoutine: (one lab) 36.3-47.3 kGyExperimental LM: low dose 25.7-38.1 kGy

high dose 38.1-53.6 kGy

Man [40 years]Routine: 1-10 kGySome foods (eg dried herbs, spices) to 30kGy(Child et al. 2009)

“INCUBATION PERIOD OF LM”First ingestion to onset of neurologic disease

Spontaneous cases: about 4 months

2.5 – 6 months

Experimental cases: 140 – 174 days (~4.5 – 6mo)

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 235:355, 2009.

FINAL QUESTION

Are there implications

for other species?

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