CNS Degenerative Diseases - Pathology
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Equine Laryngeal Hemiplegia
Lysosomal Storage Disease
(LSD)
- Occurs in many breeds of dogs and cats.
- Genetic defects give deficiencies of specific enzymes of degradation.
- Disease only occurs in animals homozygous at the gene pair controlling enzyme activity.
- The genes are co-dominant.
- Enzyme activity is extremely low or entirely absent.
- Disease only occurs in animals homozygous at the gene pair controlling enzyme activity.
- Large amounts of waste products accumulate within cells.
- Nervous system cells are predisposed.
- Cells become engorged.
- Normal function is prevented.
- Image 1, courtesy of Cornell Veterinary Medicine
- Image 2, courtesy of Cornell Veterinary Medicine
- Image 3, courtesy of Cornell Veterinary Medicine
Clinical Signs
- Nervous system cells are predisposed to the disease, and so progressive neurological signs predominate.
- Develop between 2 weeks and 12 months of age.
- The disease is ultimately fatal.
- For example, Siamese cats show:
- Ganglisidosis
- Mucopolysaccharidosis
Diagnosis
- Clinical signs are considered.
- Urine enzyme assays may be helpful.
- Post-mortem diagnosis is possible.
- More recently, gene tests have been available.
Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome
(CDS)
- CDS causes signs of senility.
- Increasing numbers of dogs and cats are suffering from CDS.
- Prevalence is similar to that seen in humans: an 85 year-old human is roughly equivalent to a 15 year-old cat, and a 13-14 year-old dog.
- Aging in dogs id breed specific.
- Prevalence is similar to that seen in humans: an 85 year-old human is roughly equivalent to a 15 year-old cat, and a 13-14 year-old dog.
Pathology
- A number of changes are seen in the brains of geriatric animals which may cause the signs of CDS.
- Vascular insufficiency leads to:
- Hypoxia
- Increased free redical production
- Deposition of amyloid plaques
- Modification of other brain proteins
- Vascular insufficiency leads to:
Treatment
- There are no published studies related to treatment of CDS in animals.
- Potential therapies include:
- Dietary modification
- Diets are enriched with antioxidants, vitamin E, beta-carotene and essential fatty acids.
- Environmental stimulation
- Drugs
- Selegiline
- Propentofylline
- Nicergoline
- Dietary modification