An encephalomyelopathy in related Birman kittens.

The clinical and morphological features of an encephalomyelopathy in five related Birman kittens are described. The five kittens showed hind limb paresis and ataxia which progressed to hind limb paralysis. Four of the kittens had bilateral nuclear cataracts. Histological examination revealed diffuse lesions within the brain and spinal cord, especially within the thoracolumbar spinal cord. The major changes were foci of spongy change and vacuolation along with Wallerian degeneration. All kittens were inbred and an inherited aetiology was suspected.