COSTA, C. C. F. S.; COSTA, Carla Cristina Fernandes de Sousa.
Résumé:
Cerebellar abiotrophy is an inherited disease characterized by progressive and degenerative
changes in the cerebellum Purkinje neurons, rarely observed in animals and man. The
objective of this study was to describe a case of cerebellar abiotrophy occurred in a cat
diagnosed at the Animal Pathology Laboratory (APL) Veterinary Hospital (HV) of the
Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), Patos - PB. The case occurred in a cat,
mixed breed male, 45 days old who had progressive neurological signs of ataxia,
hypermetria, soreness of the members, intention tremors, nystagmus, opisthotonos,
proprioceptive deficits and absence of corneal reflex. According to the owner, two cats
sisters gave birth four puppies each, two from each litter with similar clinical signs. Three
cubs had died and this cat had clinical changes for 15 days. After suspected severe
cerebellar disease, euthanasia and autopsy examination was indicated. Macroscopically
observed no injury. Microscopic lesions were restricted to the cerebellum mainly
characterized by degenerative and necrotic changes in Purkinje neurons. It was also found
that the granular layer of the cerebellum were hypocellular and thinner. This is the first
case of cerebellar abiotrophy diagnosed in the routine of LPA / HV / UFCG, possibly
associated with an autosomal recessive gene. In such cases, it should be included in the
differential diagnosis of cerebellar diseases, especially cerebellar hypoplasia in cats.