1. Case 2010-9 WELCOME TO A PARALLEL UNIVERSE: VETERINARY MEDICINE

2. Some things in common, some things different CLINICAL DISORDERS VETERINARY JOURNALS Muscular dystrophyVeterinary Pathology Rheumatoid arthritisJournal of Comparative Pathology Motor neuron diseaseVeterinary Radiology & Ultrasound CardiomyopathyVeterinary Dermatology GlaucomaVeterinary Ophthalmology PemphigusEquine Veterinary Journal PolymyositisFeline Medicine and Surgery Diabetes mellitus Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica VETERINARY MEDICINE AND MEDICINE

3. Case 2010-9 CASE 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

4. 2010-9

6. LFBCEV GFAP

8. BIELSCHOWSKY

9. LECTIN sWGA IDENTIFIES THE MACROPHAGES

10. TWO QUESTIONS 1. Morphologic diagnosis 2. Etiology

12. TWO QUESTIONS 1.Morphologic diagnosis – spinal cord leukomyelopathy 2.The etiology involves irradiation – what was irradiated?

13. TWO QUESTIONS 1.Morphologic diagnosis – spinal cord leukomyelopathy 2.The etiology involves irradiation – what was irradiated? The food. This feline leukomyelopathy is caused by the consumption of dry food that has been irradiated.

14. LEUKOMYELOPATHY (LM) IN CATS Year seen orWhereNumber of published clinical cases …………………………………………………………………………. 1996USA (Cornell) 42 (F) 2007UK/Ireland 190 (M&F) 2009USA (Wisconsin) ? (F) 2009Australia 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)

15. 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 of ions and free radicals which can kill or damage pathogenic organisms in food. This reduces the use of fungicides, other chemicals, etc.

16. GAMMA IRRADIATION OF FOOD Cat Routine: (one lab)36.3-47.3 kGy Experimental LM: low dose25.7-38.1 kGy high dose38.1-53.6 kGy Man [40 years] Routine:1-10 kGy Some foods (eg dried herbs, spices)to 30kGy (Child et al. 2009)

17. “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)

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

19. FINAL QUESTION Are there implications for other species?

20. THE ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE, LONDON, UK