title: Meningoencephalitis in cats in Austria: a study of infectious causes, including Encephalitozoon cuniculi.
abstract: Objectives Despite comprehensive diagnostics, the aetiology of meningoencephalitis (ME) in cats often remains undetermined. As a result of recently published surveys, Encephalitozoon cuniculi has gained growing importance in cats not only with ocular disorders, but also with central nervous system disease. Therefore, it was hypothesised that E cuniculi may be an underestimated pathogen in the development of feline non-suppurative and/or granulomatous ME. Methods As a first step, histopathological sections of the brain of cats with encephalopathy were retrospectively reviewed to identify cases of granulomatous ME. In a second step, an immunohistochemical screening for detection of E cuniculi was performed in cases with ME of unknown origin. Results In 59/89 (66.3%) cats with ME, an aetiologically relevant pathogen was detected. Forty-three of 89 (48.3%) cats had a diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis. In 14/89 (15.7%) cats, protozoan cysts were identified and infection with Toxoplasma gondii was confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in all cases. In 2/89 (2.3%) cats with granulomatous ME, fungal organisms were identified. Thirty of 89 (33.7%) cats with ME of unknown origin that underwent IHC for the detection of E cuniculi remained negative. Conclusions and relevance The results of this study suggest that E cuniculi is unlikely to be directly associated with (non-suppurative and/or granulomatous) ME in cats in Austria.
authors.affiliation: 1 Clinical Department of Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Künzel
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rebel-Bauder
authors.affiliation: 3 Statistics Austria, Consumer Health Information System (VIS), Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kassl
authors.affiliation: 1 Clinical Department of Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leschnik
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Url
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001317:Austria; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D009670:Encephalitozoon cuniculi; D016890:Encephalitozoonosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma