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Vidal-Palencia L, Font C, Rebollada-Merino A, Santpere G, Andrés-Benito P, Ferrer I, Pumarola M. Primary Feline Tauopathy: Clinical, Morphological, Immunohistochemical, and Genetic Studies. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2985. [PMID: 37760385 PMCID: PMC10525166 DOI: 10.3390/ani13182985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the pathological aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau in neurons and glia. Primary tauopathies are not uncommon in humans but exceptional in other species. We evaluate the clinical, neuropathological, and genetic alterations related to tau pathology in 16 cats aged from 1 to 21 years with different clinical backgrounds. Interestingly, a 10-year-old female cat presented a six-year progressive history of mental status and gait abnormalities. The imaging study revealed generalized cortical atrophy. Due to the poor prognosis, the cat was euthanatized at the age of ten. Neuropathological lesions were characterized by massive neuronal loss with marked spongiosis and associated moderate reactive gliosis in the parietal cortex, being less severe in other areas of the cerebral cortex, and the loss of Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. Immunohistochemical methods revealed a 4R-tauopathy with granular pre-tangles in neurons and coiled bodies in oligodendrocytes. Deposits were recognized with several phospho-site antibodies (4Rtau, tau5, AT8, PFH, tau-P Thr181, tau-P-Ser 262, tau-P Ser 422) and associated with increased granular expression of active tau kinases (p38-P Thr180/Tyr182 and SAPK/JNK-P Thr138/Thr185). The genetic study revealed well-preserved coding regions of MAPT. No similar alterations related to tau pathology were found in the other 15 cats processed in parallel. To our knowledge, this is the first case reporting a primary 4R-tauopathy with severe cerebral and Purkinje cell degeneration in an adult cat with neurological signs starting at a young age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Vidal-Palencia
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona (PRBB), 08003 Barcelona, Spain;
- Unitat de Patologia Murina i Comparada, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Campus UAB, Travessera dels Turons s/n, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Cristina Font
- Hospital Veterinari Canis, Can Pau Birol, 38, 17006 Girona, Spain;
| | - Agustín Rebollada-Merino
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Department of Internal Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gabriel Santpere
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona (PRBB), 08003 Barcelona, Spain;
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Pol Andrés-Benito
- Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), 08908 Barcelona, Spain; (P.A.-B.); (I.F.)
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), 08908 Barcelona, Spain; (P.A.-B.); (I.F.)
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martí Pumarola
- Unitat de Patologia Murina i Comparada, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Campus UAB, Travessera dels Turons s/n, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
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Apostolopoulou EP, Raikos N, Vlemmas I, Michaelidis E, Brellou GD. Metallothionein I/II Expression and Metal Ion Levels in Correlation with Amyloid Beta Deposits in the Aged Feline Brain. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1115. [PMID: 37509045 PMCID: PMC10377600 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13071115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain aging has been correlated with high metallothionein I-II (MT-I/II) expression, iron and zinc dyshomeostasis, and Aβ deposition in humans and experimental animals. In the present study, iron and zinc accumulation, the expression of MT-I/II and Aβ42, and their potential association with aging in the feline brain were assessed. Tissue sections from the temporal and frontal grey (GM) and white (WM) matter, hippocampus, thalamus, striatum, cerebellum, and dentate nucleus were examined histochemically for the presence of age-related histopathological lesions and iron deposits and distribution. We found, using a modified Perl's/DAB method, two types of iron plaques that showed age-dependent accumulation in the temporal GM and WM and the thalamus, along with the age-dependent increment in cerebellar-myelin-associated iron. We also demonstrated an age-dependent increase in MT-I/II immunoreactivity in the feline brain. In cats over 7 years old, Aβ immunoreactivity was detected in vessel walls and neuronal somata; extracellular Aβ deposits were also evident. Interestingly, Aβ-positive astrocytes were also observed in certain cases. ICP-MS analysis of brain content regarding iron and zinc concentrations showed no statistically significant association with age, but a mild increase in iron with age was noticed, while zinc levels were found to be higher in the Mature and Senior groups. Our findings reinforce the suggestion that cats could serve as a dependable natural animal model for brain aging and neurodegeneration; thus, they should be further investigated on the basis of metal ion concentration changes and their effects on aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanouela P Apostolopoulou
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Raikos
- Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioannis Vlemmas
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Efstratios Michaelidis
- Laboratories of the 3rd Army Veterinary Hospital, Chemical Department, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Georgia D Brellou
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece
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3
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Azadian A, Gunn-Moore DA. Age-related cognitive impairments in domestic cats naturally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus. Vet Rec 2022; 191:e1683. [PMID: 35512238 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.1683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Age-related dementia has been documented in domestic cats; however, its interaction with naturally occurring feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection has been investigated minimally. METHODS Visuospatial working memory (VSWM) and problem-solving (PS) ability were evaluated in FIV-infected (n = 37) and control cats (n = 39) using two cognitive tasks tested serially, which assessed the ability of cats to remember the location of a baited container after a set delay, then evaluated the capability of the cats to manipulate the container to obtain the food within a time limit. Cats were categorized using 7 years of age as a cut-off to determine age-related differences. The relationship between cognitive performance and FIV viral load was investigated using real-time PCR cycle threshold (Ct ) values. RESULTS Age significantly affected VSWM and PS ability. Younger cats had better VSWM performance and PS ability compared to older cats with the same FIV status. There was no difference between younger FIV-positive and negative cats in either part of the task. While older FIV-positive cats had significantly worse VSWM than older FIV-negative cats, no differences were found in PS ability. Additionally, Ct values predicted VSWM but not PS ability. CONCLUSION Age-related cognitive impairments and FIV infection appear synergetic, causing greater cognitive deficits in older FIV-infected cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Azadian
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food System, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Danièlle A Gunn-Moore
- Division of Companion Animals, Hospital for Small Animals, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK.,Division of Infection & Immunity, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
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4
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Gottschalk AC, Hefti MM. The evolution of microtubule associated proteins - a reference proteomic perspective. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:266. [PMID: 35387592 PMCID: PMC8985376 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08502-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubule associated proteins (MAPs), defined as proteins that bind microtubules but are not molecular motors or severing enzymes, play a key role in regulating microtubule stability in neurons. Existing studies of the evolutionary relationships between these proteins are limited to genomic data from a small number of species. We therefore used a large collection of publicly available reference-quality eukaryotic proteomes to carry out a phylogenetic analysis of microtubule associated proteins in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Complete or near-complete reference quality proteomes were obtained from Uniprot. Microtubule associated proteins were identified using InterProtScan, aligned using MUSCLE and then phylogenetic trees constructed using the WAG algorithm. We identified 889 proteins with tubulin binding domains, of which 663 were in eukaryotes, including 168 vertebrates and 64 invertebrates. The vertebrate proteins separated into three families, resembling human MAP 2, MAP4 and MAPT, respectively, while invertebrate MAPs clustered separately. We found significant variation in number of microtubule associated proteins and number of microtubule binding domains between taxa, with fish and mollusks having an unexpectedly high number of MAPs and binding domains, respectively. Our findings represent a novel analysis of the evolution of microtubule associated proteins based on publicly available proteomics data sets. We were able to confirm the phylogeny of MAPs identified based on more limited genomic analyses, and in addition, derived several novel insights on the structure and function of MAPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy C Gottschalk
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, 25 S Grand Ave, MRC-108A, Iowa City, IA, 52240, USA
| | - Marco M Hefti
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, 25 S Grand Ave, MRC-108A, Iowa City, IA, 52240, USA.
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5
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Malbon AJ, Sordo L, Wilson LA, Gunn-Moore D, Paraschou G, Macintyre N, Schwarz T, McGorum B, Hahn C. Alzheimer-like pathology in the parietal cortex and hippocampus of aged donkeys. Neurobiol Aging 2022; 113:7-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Sordo L, Gunn-Moore DA. Cognitive Dysfunction in Cats: Update on Neuropathological and Behavioural Changes Plus Clinical Management. Vet Rec 2021; 188:e3. [PMID: 34651755 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is an established condition in cats that shares many similarities with human Alzheimer's disease (AD), where cognitive decline ultimately results in dementia. Cats with CDS display behavioural abnormalities, including excessive Vocalisation, altered Interaction with owners (increased affection/attention), altered Sleep-wake cycles, House-soiling, Disorientation (spatial and/or temporal), alterations in Activity, Anxiety, and/or Learning/memory deficits (i.e., VISHDAAL). These cats develop neuropathologies, such as accumulation of β-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau deposits. Because of its similarities to those in the brains of people with cognitive impairment and AD, the domestic cat could be a natural model for human dementia studies. It is important to diagnose CDS promptly in cats, ruling out other causes for these behavioural changes, to provide effective management. Interventions include environmental enrichment (e.g., easy access to key resources, calming pheromones), dietary supplementations (e.g., Senilife, Aktivait for cats, SAMe), specific diets (e.g., containing antioxidants, medium-chain triglycerides) and, potentially, medication (e.g., selegiline or propentofylline). This article reviews the literature about CDS in cats, its causes, neuropathology, clinical signs, diagnosis and potential management options. By doing so, it furthers our understanding of this condition and allows improved health, welfare and quality of life of affected cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Sordo
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Roslin, UK
| | - Danièlle A Gunn-Moore
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Roslin, UK
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Sordo L, Martini AC, Houston EF, Head E, Gunn-Moore D. Neuropathology of Aging in Cats and its Similarities to Human Alzheimer’s Disease. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2021; 2:684607. [PMID: 35822024 PMCID: PMC9261448 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2021.684607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Elderly cats develop age-related behavioral and neuropathological changes that ultimately lead to cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). These neuropathologies share similarities to those seen in the brains of humans with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), including the extracellular accumulation of ß-amyloid (Aβ) and intraneuronal deposits of hyperphosphorylated tau, which are considered to be the two major hallmarks of AD. The present study assessed the presence and distribution of Aβ and tau hyperphosphorylation within the cat brain (n = 55 cats), and how the distribution of these proteins changes with age and the presence of CDS. For this, immunohistochemistry was performed on seven brain regions from cats of various ages, with and without CDS (n = 10 with CDS). Cats accumulate both intracytoplasmic and extracellular deposits of Aβ, as well as intranuclear and intracytoplasmic hyperphosphorylated tau deposits. Large extracellular aggregates of Aβ were found in elderly cats, mainly in the cortical brain areas, with occasional hippocampal aggregates. This may suggest that these aggregates start in cortical areas and later progress to the hippocampus. While Aβ senile plaques in people with AD have a dense core, extracellular Aβ deposits in cats exhibited a diffuse pattern, similar to the early stages of plaque pathogenesis. Intraneuronal Aβ deposits were also observed, occurring predominantly in cortical brain regions of younger cats, while older cats had few to no intraneuronal Aβ deposits, especially when extracellular aggregates were abundant. Intracytoplasmic hyperphosphorylated tau was found within neurons in the brains of elderly cats, particularly in those with CDS. Due to their ultrastructural features, these deposits are considered to be pre-tangles, which are an early stage of the neurofibrillary tangles seen in AD. The largest numbers of pre-tangles are found mainly in the cerebral cortex of elderly cats, whereas lower numbers were found in other regions (i.e., entorhinal cortex and hippocampus). For the first time, intranuclear tau was found in both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated states within neurons in the cat brain. The highest numbers of intranuclear deposits were found in the cortex of younger cats, and this tended to decrease with age. In contrast, elderly cats with pre-tangles had only occasional or no nuclear labelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Sordo
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Lorena Sordo,
| | - Alessandra C. Martini
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - E. Fiona Houston
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Danièlle Gunn-Moore
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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8
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Sil S, Thangaraj A, Chivero ET, Niu F, Kannan M, Liao K, Silverstein PS, Periyasamy P, Buch S. HIV-1 and drug abuse comorbidity: Lessons learned from the animal models of NeuroHIV. Neurosci Lett 2021; 754:135863. [PMID: 33794296 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Various research studies that have investigated the association between HIV infection and addiction underpin the role of various drugs of abuse in impairing immunological and non-immunological pathways of the host system, ultimately leading to augmentation of HIV infection and disease progression. These studies have included both in vitro and in vivo animal models wherein investigators have assessed the effects of various drugs on several disease parameters to decipher the impact of drugs on both HIV infection and progression of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). However, given the inherent limitations in the existing animal models of HAND, these investigations only recapitulated specific aspects of the disease but not the complex human syndrome. Despite the inability of HIV to infect rodents over the last 30 years, multiple strategies have been employed to develop several rodent models of HAND. While none of these models can accurately mimic the overall pathophysiology of HAND, they serve the purpose of modeling some unique aspects of HAND. This review provides an overview of various animal models used in the field and a careful evaluation of methodological strengths and limitations inherent in both the model systems and study designs to understand better how the various animal models complement one another.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susmita Sil
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Annadurai Thangaraj
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Ernest T Chivero
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Fang Niu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Muthukumar Kannan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Ke Liao
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Peter S Silverstein
- School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - Palsamy Periyasamy
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
| | - Shilpa Buch
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
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Zadik-Weiss L, Ritter S, Hermush V, Asher N, Avital A, Or R. Feline cognitive dysfunction as a model for Alzheimer's disease in the research of CBD as a potential treatment-a narrative review. J Cannabis Res 2020; 2:43. [PMID: 33526138 PMCID: PMC7819322 DOI: 10.1186/s42238-020-00054-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
With the improvement in modern medicine, the world's human and feline (Felis catus, the domestic cat) population is aging. As the population grows older, there is an increase of age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease in humans and feline cognitive dysfunction in felines, which shares many similarities with Alzheimer's disease. They both result in cognitive decline and lack effective treatments. In light of their pathological similarities, both occur at old age, and as domestic cats share the human environment and risk factors (cats are considered an indicator to the effect of environmental contaminants on humans as they share exposures and diseases), cats have the potential to be a spontaneous model for Alzheimer's disease. Classic animal models in many cases fail to predict the results in humans, and a natural model can lead to better prediction of results, thus being both time and cost-effective. The feline disease can be researched in trials that could be simultaneously clinical trials for cats and preclinical trials for humans, also referred to as reverse translational medicine. As both maladies lack effective medical intervention, new potential treatments are merited. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a promising agent that may improve the life of these patients, as it was shown to potentially treat several of the pathologies found in both conditions. yet there is a need for further research in order to establish the benefits and safety of CBD to both human and feline patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Vered Hermush
- Department of Geriatrics and Skilled Nursing, Laniado Medical Center, Netanya, Israel
- Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Nethanel Asher
- The Ella Lemelbaum Institute for Immuno-Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Avi Avital
- Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, Department of Neuroscience, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Reuven Or
- Bone Marrow Transplantation, Cancer Immunotherapy & Immunobiology Research Center, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
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10
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Černá P, Gardiner H, Sordo L, Tørnqvist-Johnsen C, Gunn-Moore DA. Potential Causes of Increased Vocalisation in Elderly Cats with Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome as Assessed by Their Owners. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1092. [PMID: 32599838 PMCID: PMC7341261 DOI: 10.3390/ani10061092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to explore owner perception of the causes of increased vocalisation in cats diagnosed with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) and consider what impact this vocalisation may have on the cat's household. Owners of cats diagnosed with CDS that presented with increased vocalisation were invited to complete an online survey. The survey consisted of 28 questions including the cat's signalment, its medical history, and questions pertaining to the owner's perception of what motivated their cat´s increased vocalisation. This was determined by looking at the cat's behaviour when vocalising, where it was looking when it was vocalising, and if the vocalisation stopped when the owner interacted with it, e.g., petting or feeding it. The owners were also asked how stressful they found their cat's vocalisation. There were 37 responses. The majority of owners reported that the main cause of their cat's vocalisation appeared to be disorientation (40.5%) or attention seeking (40.5%). Seeking a resource such as food was reported in 16.2%, and pain was perceived to be the cause in only 2.7% of cats. However, the majority of owners (64.8%) believed there was >1 cause of their cat's increased vocalisation. Importantly, when owners were asked how stressful they found their cat's increased vocalisation, 40.5% scored ≥3 (where 1 = not stressful; 5 = significantly stressful). This study provides novel insight into owner perception of feline CDS, as well as potential causes for increased vocalisation; this will allow veterinarians to better advise owners on how to manage their cat with CDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Černá
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK; (L.S.); (C.T.-J.); (D.A.G.-M.)
- Small Animal Clinic, The University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, 251 61 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hannah Gardiner
- The Beaumont Veterinary Group—Kidlington branch, Kidlington OX5 1EA, UK;
| | - Lorena Sordo
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK; (L.S.); (C.T.-J.); (D.A.G.-M.)
| | - Camilla Tørnqvist-Johnsen
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK; (L.S.); (C.T.-J.); (D.A.G.-M.)
| | - Danièlle A. Gunn-Moore
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK; (L.S.); (C.T.-J.); (D.A.G.-M.)
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11
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Story BD, Miller ME, Bradbury AM, Million ED, Duan D, Taghian T, Faissler D, Fernau D, Beecy SJ, Gray-Edwards HL. Canine Models of Inherited Musculoskeletal and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:80. [PMID: 32219101 PMCID: PMC7078110 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse models of human disease remain the bread and butter of modern biology and therapeutic discovery. Nonetheless, more often than not mouse models do not reproduce the pathophysiology of the human conditions they are designed to mimic. Naturally occurring large animal models have predominantly been found in companion animals or livestock because of their emotional or economic value to modern society and, unlike mice, often recapitulate the human disease state. In particular, numerous models have been discovered in dogs and have a fundamental role in bridging proof of concept studies in mice to human clinical trials. The present article is a review that highlights current canine models of human diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, degenerative myelopathy, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, globoid cell leukodystrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, mucopolysaccharidosis, and fucosidosis. The goal of the review is to discuss canine and human neurodegenerative pathophysiologic similarities, introduce the animal models, and shed light on the ability of canine models to facilitate current and future treatment trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett D. Story
- Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL, United States
- University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Matthew E. Miller
- Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Allison M. Bradbury
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Emily D. Million
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biomedical, Biological and Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Toloo Taghian
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Dominik Faissler
- Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, United States
| | - Deborah Fernau
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Sidney J. Beecy
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, United States
| | - Heather L. Gray-Edwards
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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12
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Fiock KL, Smith JD, Crary JF, Hefti MM. β-amyloid and tau pathology in the aging feline brain. J Comp Neurol 2020; 528:108-113. [PMID: 31273784 PMCID: PMC6842105 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Domestic cats (Felis catus) are known to develop cognitive impairment, and several small series have demonstrated both β-amyloid and tau aggregation, including neurofibrillary tangles, with age, making them a promising physiologic model of Alzheimer disease (AD). We therefore report the largest feline autopsy cohort to date of 32 cats ranging from 1.5 to 22.1 years of age, with systematic neuropathologic assessment according to NIA-Alzheimer's Association Criteria. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections of brain were obtained retrospectively from cats autopsied at the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine. We found β-amyloid staining, predominantly in Cortical Layers IV and VI in 27 of the 32 cats used in the study, with four of these animals showing tau-positive tangles and neuropil threads. In 75% of these cases (3/4), tau deposition was limited to entorhinal cortex, while one case showed diffuse positive staining throughout the hippocampal formation and neocortex. This last case showed positive staining for all phospho-tau-specific antibodies tested, similar to the pattern seen in human AD. Interestingly, we saw a higher ratio of pretangles to tangles than that in human AD, and none of the cases showed neuritic plaques on any of the stains used. Our findings indicate that aging domestic cats spontaneously develop both β-amyloid and tau pathology similar, but not identical to that seen in human AD. This suggests that the domestic cat may serve as a potential model for mechanistic and therapeutic AD studies, but that additional research is needed to identify differences between the neuropathology of aging in humans and felines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jodi D. Smith
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames, IA
| | - John F. Crary
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
- Friedmann Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Marco M. Hefti
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
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13
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Devinsky O, Boesch JM, Cerda-Gonzalez S, Coffey B, Davis K, Friedman D, Hainline B, Houpt K, Lieberman D, Perry P, Prüss H, Samuels MA, Small GW, Volk H, Summerfield A, Vite C, Wisniewski T, Natterson-Horowitz B. A cross-species approach to disorders affecting brain and behaviour. Nat Rev Neurol 2019; 14:677-686. [PMID: 30287906 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-018-0074-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Structural and functional elements of biological systems are highly conserved across vertebrates. Many neurological and psychiatric conditions affect both humans and animals. A cross-species approach to the study of brain and behaviour can advance our understanding of human disorders via the identification of unrecognized natural models of spontaneous disorders, thus revealing novel factors that increase vulnerability or resilience, and via the assessment of potential therapies. Moreover, diagnostic and therapeutic advances in human neurology and psychiatry can often be adapted for veterinary patients. However, clinical and research collaborations between physicians and veterinarians remain limited, leaving this wealth of comparative information largely untapped. Here, we review pain, cognitive decline syndromes, epilepsy, anxiety and compulsions, autoimmune and infectious encephalitides and mismatch disorders across a range of animal species, looking for novel insights with translational potential. This comparative perspective can help generate novel hypotheses, expand and improve clinical trials and identify natural animal models of disease resistance and vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orrin Devinsky
- Department of Neurology, New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center and NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Jordyn M Boesch
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | - Barbara Coffey
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Kathryn Davis
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Daniel Friedman
- Department of Neurology, New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center and NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brian Hainline
- Department of Neurology, New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center and NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katherine Houpt
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Daniel Lieberman
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Pamela Perry
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Harald Prüss
- Department of Neurology with Experimental Neurology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany, and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Gary W Small
- University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Holger Volk
- Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK
| | - Artur Summerfield
- Institute of Virology and Immunology and Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Charles Vite
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Thomas Wisniewski
- Department of Neurology, New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center and NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Barbara Natterson-Horowitz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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14
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Poncelet L, Ando K, Vergara C, Mansour S, Suain V, Yilmaz Z, Reygel A, Gilissen E, Brion JP, Leroy K. A 4R tauopathy develops without amyloid deposits in aged cat brains. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 81:200-212. [PMID: 31306814 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Human tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases with accumulation of abnormally phosphorylated and aggregated tau proteins forming neurofibrillary tangles. We investigated the development of tau pathology in aged cat brains as a model of neurofibrillary tangle formation occurring spontaneously during aging. In 4 of 6 cats aged between 18 and 21 years, we found a somatodendritic accumulation of phosphorylated and aggregated tau in neurons and oligodendrocytes. Two of these 4 cats had no amyloid immunoreactivity. These tau inclusions were mainly composed of 4R tau isoforms and straight filaments and colocalized with the active form of the glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3). Cat brains with a tau pathology showed a significant cortical atrophy and neuronal loss. We demonstrate in this study the presence of a tau pathology in aged cat brains that develop independently of amyloid deposits. The colocalization of the active form of the GSK3 with tau inclusions as observed in human tauopathies suggests that this kinase could be responsible for the abnormal tau phosphorylation observed in aged cat brains, representing a mechanism of tau pathology development shared between a naturally occurring tauopathy in aged cats and human tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luc Poncelet
- Laboratory of Anatomy, Biomechanics and Organogenesis, ULB neuroscience institute, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kunie Ando
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculty of Medicine, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cristina Vergara
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculty of Medicine, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Salwa Mansour
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculty of Medicine, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Valérie Suain
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculty of Medicine, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Zehra Yilmaz
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculty of Medicine, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alain Reygel
- Royal Museum for Central Africa, Vertebrate Unit, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Emmanuel Gilissen
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculty of Medicine, Brussels, Belgium; Royal Museum for Central Africa, BIOCOL Unit, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Jean-Pierre Brion
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculty of Medicine, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Karelle Leroy
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculty of Medicine, Brussels, Belgium.
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15
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Stylianaki I, Komnenou AT, Posantzis D, Nikolaou K, Papaioannou N. Alzheimer’s disease‐like pathological lesions in an aged bottlenose dolphin (
Tursiops truncatus
). VETERINARY RECORD CASE REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.1136/vetreccr-2018-000700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Stylianaki
- Department of PathologyAristotle University of ThessalonikiThessalonikiGreece
| | - Anastasia T Komnenou
- Department of Comparative Ophthalmology‐Exotic and Wildlife MedicineAristotle University of ThessalonikiThessalonikiGreece
| | | | - Konstantina Nikolaou
- Laboratory of Productive AgricultureDivision of Crop ProductionDepartment of Agricultural TechnologyTechnological Educational Institute of EpirusArtaGreece
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16
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Medeiros ADM, Silva RH. Sex Differences in Alzheimer’s Disease: Where Do We Stand? J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 67:35-60. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-180213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- André de Macêdo Medeiros
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Health and Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido, Mossoró, Brazil
| | - Regina Helena Silva
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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17
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Gunn‐Moore D, Kaidanovich‐Beilin O, Iradi MCG, Gunn‐Moore F, Lovestone S. Alzheimer's disease in humans and other animals: A consequence of postreproductive life span and longevity rather than aging. Alzheimers Dement 2017; 14:195-204. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2017.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Revised: 08/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Danièlle Gunn‐Moore
- University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute Easter Bush Campus Roslin UK
| | | | - María Carolina Gallego Iradi
- University of Florida, College of Medicine Department of Neuroscience, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases Gainesville FL USA
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18
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Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Neuropathogenesis: A Model for HIV-Induced CNS Inflammation and Neurodegeneration. Vet Sci 2017; 4:vetsci4010014. [PMID: 29056673 PMCID: PMC5606611 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci4010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Feline Immunodeficiency virus (FIV), similar to its human analog human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), enters the central nervous system (CNS) soon after infection and establishes a protected viral reservoir. The ensuing inflammation and damage give rise to varying degrees of cognitive decline collectively known as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Because of the similarities to HIV infection and disease, FIV has provided a useful model for both in vitro and in vivo studies of CNS infection, inflammation and pathology. This mini review summarizes insights gained from studies of early infection, immune cell trafficking, inflammation and the mechanisms of neuropathogenesis. Advances in our understanding of these processes have contributed to the development of therapeutic interventions designed to protect neurons and regulate inflammatory activity.
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19
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Vallino Costassa E, Fiorini M, Zanusso G, Peletto S, Acutis P, Baioni E, Maurella C, Tagliavini F, Catania M, Gallo M, Faro ML, Chieppa MN, Meloni D, D'Angelo A, Paciello O, Ghidoni R, Tonoli E, Casalone C, Corona C. Characterization of Amyloid-β Deposits in Bovine Brains. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 51:875-87. [PMID: 26890772 PMCID: PMC4927890 DOI: 10.3233/jad-151007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) deposits are seen in aged individuals of many mammalian species that possess the same aminoacid sequence as humans. This study describes Aβ deposition in 102 clinically characterized cattle brains from animals aged 0 to 20 years. Extracellular and intracellular Aβ deposition was detected with 4G8 antibody in the cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum. X-34 staining failed to stain Aβ deposits, indicating the non β-pleated nature of these deposits. Western blot analysis and surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (SELDI-TOF) mass spectrometry revealed in Tris, Triton, and formic acid fractions the presence of different Aβ peptides, characterized mainly by C-terminally truncated forms. Exploration of the genetic variability of APOE, PSEN1, and PSEN2 genes involved in Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis revealed several previously unreported polymorphisms. This study demonstrates certain similarities between Aβ deposition patterns exhibited in cattle brains and those in the human brain in early stages of aging. Furthermore, the identification of the same Aβ peptides reported in humans, but unable to form aggregates, supports the hypothesis that cattle may be protected against amyloid plaque formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Vallino Costassa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Michele Fiorini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche Biomediche e del Movimento, Universitá di Verona, Policlinico "G.B. Rossi" Borgo Roma, Verona, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Zanusso
- Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche Biomediche e del Movimento, Universitá di Verona, Policlinico "G.B. Rossi" Borgo Roma, Verona, Italy
| | - Simone Peletto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Acutis
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Elisa Baioni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Cristiana Maurella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | | | | | - Marina Gallo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Monica Lo Faro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Maria Novella Chieppa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Daniela Meloni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Antonio D'Angelo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Sezione Clinica Medica, Universitá di Torino, Grugliasco (TO), Italy
| | - Orlando Paciello
- Dipartimento di Patologia e Sanitá Animale, Universitá di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Roberta Ghidoni
- Laboratorio Marcatori Molecolari, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli Brescia, Italy
| | - Elisa Tonoli
- Laboratorio Marcatori Molecolari, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli Brescia, Italy
| | - Cristina Casalone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Cristiano Corona
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
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20
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Bellows J, Center S, Daristotle L, Estrada AH, Flickinger EA, Horwitz DF, Lascelles BDX, Lepine A, Perea S, Scherk M, Shoveller AK. Aging in cats: Common physical and functional changes. J Feline Med Surg 2016; 18:533-50. [PMID: 27370392 PMCID: PMC10816677 DOI: 10.1177/1098612x16649523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
PRACTICAL RELEVANCE Aged pets comprise a significant proportion of the small animal veterinarian's patient population; in the USA, for example, it was estimated that over 20% of pet cats were 11 years of age or older in 2011. Certain changes associated with aging are neither positive nor negative, but others are less desirable, associated with illness, changes in mobility or the development of unwanted behaviors. These changes can greatly affect the health and wellbeing of the cat and have a tremendous impact on the owner. CLINICAL CHALLENGES Regular veterinary examinations are essential for evaluating the health of older patients and for providing owners with guidance regarding optimal care. With the exception of overt disease, however, it is difficult to definitively determine if a cat is displaying changes that are appropriate for age or if they reflect an abnormal process or condition. GOALS This is the first of two review articles in a Special Issue devoted to feline healthy aging. The goals of the project culminating in these publications included developing a working definition for healthy aging in feline patients and identifying clinical methods that can be used to accurately classify healthy aged cats. This first review provides a thorough, systems-based overview of common health-related changes observed in cats as they age. EVIDENCE BASE There is a paucity of research in feline aging. The authors have drawn on expert opinion and available data in both the cat and other species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sharon Center
- Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Leighann Daristotle
- The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, USA L Daristotle's current address is: The Blue Buffalo Co, Wilton, CT, USA
| | - Amara H Estrada
- University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Flickinger
- The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, USA EA Flickinger's current address is: Kent Pet Group, 2905 N Hwy 61, Muscatine, IA, USA
| | | | - B Duncan X Lascelles
- North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Allan Lepine
- The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, USA
| | - Sally Perea
- The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, USA
| | | | - Anna K Shoveller
- The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, USA AK Shoveller's current address is: Department of Animal BioSciences, University of Guelph, ON, Canada
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21
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Youssef SA, Capucchio MT, Rofina JE, Chambers JK, Uchida K, Nakayama H, Head E. Pathology of the Aging Brain in Domestic and Laboratory Animals, and Animal Models of Human Neurodegenerative Diseases. Vet Pathol 2016; 53:327-48. [DOI: 10.1177/0300985815623997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
According to the WHO, the proportion of people over 60 years is increasing and expected to reach 22% of total world’s population in 2050. In parallel, recent animal demographic studies have shown that the life expectancy of pet dogs and cats is increasing. Brain aging is associated not only with molecular and morphological changes but also leads to different degrees of behavioral and cognitive dysfunction. Common age-related brain lesions in humans include brain atrophy, neuronal loss, amyloid plaques, cerebrovascular amyloid angiopathy, vascular mineralization, neurofibrillary tangles, meningeal osseous metaplasia, and accumulation of lipofuscin. In aging humans, the most common neurodegenerative disorder is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which progressively impairs cognition, behavior, and quality of life. Pathologic changes comparable to the lesions of AD are described in several other animal species, although their clinical significance and effect on cognitive function are poorly documented. This review describes the commonly reported age-associated neurologic lesions in domestic and laboratory animals and the relationship of these lesions to cognitive dysfunction. Also described are the comparative interspecies similarities and differences to AD and other human neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy, and the spontaneous and transgenic animal models of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. A. Youssef
- Department of Pathobiology, Dutch Molecular Pathology Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - M. T. Capucchio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Torino University, Torino, Italy
| | - J. E. Rofina
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - J. K. Chambers
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - K. Uchida
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - H. Nakayama
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - E. Head
- Sanders Brown Center on Aging, Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, UK, USA
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22
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Chambers JK, Tokuda T, Uchida K, Ishii R, Tatebe H, Takahashi E, Tomiyama T, Une Y, Nakayama H. The domestic cat as a natural animal model of Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2015; 3:78. [PMID: 26651821 PMCID: PMC4674944 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-015-0258-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most dominant neurodegenerative disorder that causes dementia, and no effective treatments are available. To study its pathogenesis and develop therapeutics, animal models representing its pathologies are needed. Although many animal species develop senile plaques (SP) composed of amyloid-β (Aβ) proteins that are identical to those found in humans, none of them exhibit neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) and subsequent neurodegeneration, which are integral parts of the pathology of AD. Results The present study shows that Aβ accumulation, NFT formation, and significant neuronal loss all emerge naturally in the hippocampi of aged domestic cats. The NFT that form in the cat brain are identical to those seen in human AD in terms of their spatial distribution, the cells they affect, and the tau isoforms that comprise them. Interestingly, aged cats do not develop mature argyrophilic SP, but instead accumulate intraneuronal Aβ oligomers in their hippocampal pyramidal cells, which might be due to the amino acid sequence of felid Aβ. Conclusions These results suggest that Aβ oligomers are more important than SP for NFT formation and the subsequent neurodegeneration. The domestic cat is a unique animal species that naturally replicates various AD pathologies, especially Aβ oligomer accumulation, NFT formation, and neuronal loss. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40478-015-0258-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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23
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Smolek T, Madari A, Farbakova J, Kandrac O, Jadhav S, Cente M, Brezovakova V, Novak M, Zilka N. Tau hyperphosphorylation in synaptosomes and neuroinflammation are associated with canine cognitive impairment. J Comp Neurol 2015; 524:874-95. [PMID: 26239295 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Revised: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Canine cognitive impairment syndrome (CDS) represents a group of symptoms related to the aging of the canine brain. These changes ultimately lead to a decline of memory function and learning abilities, alteration of social interaction, impairment of normal housetraining, and changes in sleep-wake cycle and general activity. We have clinically examined 215 dogs, 28 of which underwent autopsy. With canine brains, we performed extensive analysis of pathological abnormalities characteristic of human Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration, including β-amyloid senile plaques, tau neurofibrillary tangles, and fused in sarcoma (FUS) and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP43) inclusions. Most demented dogs displayed senile plaques, mainly in the frontal and temporal cortex. Tau neurofibrillary inclusions were found in only one dog. They were identified with antibodies used to detect tau neurofibrillary lesions in the human brain. The inclusions were also positive for Gallyas silver staining. As in humans, they were distributed mainly in the entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, and temporal cortex. On the other hand, FUS and TDP43 aggregates were not present in any of the examined brain samples. We also found that CDS was characterized by the presence of reactive and senescent microglial cells in the frontal cortex. Our transcriptomic study revealed a significant dysregulation of genes involved in neuroinflammation. Finally, we analyzed tau phosphoproteome in the synaptosomes. Proteomic studies revealed a significant increase of hyperphosphorylated tau in synaptosomes of demented dogs compared with nondemented dogs. This study suggests that cognitive decline in dogs is related to the tau synaptic impairment and neuroinflammation. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:874-895, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Smolek
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Aladar Madari
- University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, 040 01, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Jana Farbakova
- University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, 040 01, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Ondrej Kandrac
- University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, 040 01, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Santosh Jadhav
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Martin Cente
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Axon Neuroscience SE, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Veronika Brezovakova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Michal Novak
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Axon Neuroscience SE, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Norbert Zilka
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Axon Neuroscience SE, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Institute of Neuroimmunology, n.o., 811 02, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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24
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Abstract
Aging dogs and cats show neurodegenerative features that are similar to human aging and Alzheimer disease. Neuropathologic changes with age may be linked to signs of cognitive dysfunction both in the laboratory and in a clinic setting. Less is known about cat brain aging and cognition and this represents an area for further study. Neurodegenerative diseases such as lysosomal storage diseases in dogs and cats also show similar features of human aging, suggesting some common underlying pathogenic mechanisms and also suggesting pathways that can be modified to promote healthy brain aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles H Vite
- Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Section of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Studies - Philadelphia, 3900 Delancey Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Department of Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, 800 South Limestone Street, 203 Sanders Brown Building, Lexington, KY 40515, USA.
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Takahashi E, Kuribayashi H, Chambers JK, Imamura E, Une Y. Senile plaques and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in an aged California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Amyloid 2014; 21:211-5. [PMID: 24779910 DOI: 10.3109/13506129.2014.908840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Senile plaques (SPs) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) consisting of β-amyloid (Aβ) are major features in the brain of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and elderly humans and animals. In this study, we report the finding of SPs and CAA in an aged sea lion (30 years), which is the first demonstration of AD-related pathological changes in a marine animal. Histologically, SPs were observed at the cerebral cortex, most frequently at the frontal lobe, with two morphologically different types: the small round type and the large granular type. Only the small round SPs were positive for Congo red staining. The SPs were equally immunoreactive to Aβ40 and Aβ42 and were mainly composed of Aβ with an N-terminal pyroglutamate residue at position 3. Amyloid depositions at vessel walls were noted at the meninges and within the parenchyma. Interestingly, double immunofluorescence staining for Aβ40 and Aβ42 showed that the two subtypes were deposited segmentally in different parts of the vessel walls. The lesions observed in the sea lion suggest that Aβ deposition is widely present in various animal species, including marine mammals; however, the peculiar deposits similar to cotton wool plaques and the specific pattern of CAA are characteristic features of this animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Takahashi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University , Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa , Japan
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Pluripotent and Multipotent Domestic Cat Stem Cells: Current Knowledge and Future Prospects. STEM CELLS IN ANIMAL SPECIES: FROM PRE-CLINIC TO BIODIVERSITY 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-03572-7_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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27
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Identification and management of cognitive decline in companion animals and the comparisons with Alzheimer disease: A review. J Vet Behav 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2012.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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28
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Cognitive enhancement in middle-aged and old cats with dietary supplementation with a nutrient blend containing fish oil, B vitamins, antioxidants and arginine. Br J Nutr 2012; 110:40-9. [DOI: 10.1017/s0007114512004771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome is a major disease affecting old cats and is the consequence of severe and irreversible loss of brain cells and brain atrophy. The present study focused on the hypothesis that the optimal strategy for promoting successful brain ageing is to target risk factors associated with brain ageing and dementia. We used a nutritional strategy involving supplementation with a blend of nutrients (antioxidants, arginine, B vitamins and fish oil) to test this hypothesis. Middle-aged and old cats between 5·5 and 8·7 years of age were assigned to cognitively equivalent control or treatment groups based on prior cognitive experience and performance on baseline cognitive tests. The cats in the treatment group were maintained on a diet supplemented with the nutrient blend and the cats in the control group were maintained on the identical base diet without the additional supplementation. After an initial wash-in period, all cats were tested on a battery of cognitive test protocols. The cats fed the test diet showed significantly better performance on three of four test protocols: a protocol assessing egocentric learning, a protocol assessing discrimination and reversal learning and a protocol focused on acquisition of a spatial memory task. The results support the hypothesis that brain function of middle-aged and old cats can be improved by the nutrient blend that was selected to minimise or eliminate the risk factors associated with brain ageing and dementia.
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Landsberg GM, Nichol J, Araujo JA. Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2012; 42:749-68, vii. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2012.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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30
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Van Dam D, De Deyn PP. Animal models in the drug discovery pipeline for Alzheimer's disease. Br J Pharmacol 2012; 164:1285-300. [PMID: 21371009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01299.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
With increasing feasibility of predicting conversion of mild cognitive impairment to dementia based on biomarker profiling, the urgent need for efficacious disease-modifying compounds has become even more critical. Despite intensive research, underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain insufficiently documented for purposeful target discovery. Translational research based on valid animal models may aid in alleviating some of the unmet needs in the current Alzheimer's disease pharmaceutical market, which includes disease-modification, increased efficacy and safety, reduction of the number of treatment unresponsive patients and patient compliance. The development and phenotyping of animal models is indeed essential in Alzheimer's disease-related research as valid models enable the appraisal of early pathological processes - which are often not accessible in patients, and subsequent target discovery and evaluation. This review paper summarizes and critically evaluates currently available animal models, and discusses their value to the Alzheimer drug discovery pipeline. Models dealt with include spontaneous models in various species, including senescence-accelerated mice, chemical and lesion-induced rodent models, and genetically modified models developed in Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, Danio rerio and rodents. Although highly valid animal models exist, none of the currently available models recapitulates all aspects of human Alzheimer's disease, and one should always be aware of the potential dangers of uncritical extrapolating from model organisms to a human condition that takes decades to develop and mainly involves higher cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debby Van Dam
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry & Behaviour, Institute Born-Bunge, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk (Antwerp), Belgium.
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31
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Landsberg GM, Deporter T, Araujo JA. Clinical signs and management of anxiety, sleeplessness, and cognitive dysfunction in the senior pet. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2012; 41:565-90. [PMID: 21601747 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2011.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Physical signs of old age may be obvious, but mental and cognitive changes require more careful observation. Changes in behavior may represent the earliest indications of medical problems, or disorders of the central nervous system, and these may be bidirectional. Cognitive dysfunction syndrome is underdiagnosed and affects a substantial portion of aged companion animals. This article describes potential treatment regimens to address age-related behavioral problems, as well as a framework for investigating differential diagnoses. Early identification of changes in behavior is essential for the adequate treatment and management of medical and behavioral problems, and for monitoring outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary M Landsberg
- North Toronto Animal Clinic, 99 Henderson Avenue, Thornhill, ON L3T 2K9, Canada.
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Serizawa S, Chambers JK, Une Y. Beta amyloid deposition and neurofibrillary tangles spontaneously occur in the brains of captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Vet Pathol 2011; 49:304-12. [PMID: 21712514 DOI: 10.1177/0300985811410719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer disease is a dementing disorder characterized pathologically by Aβ deposition, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuronal loss. Although aged animals of many species spontaneously develop Aβ deposits, only 2 species (chimpanzee and wolverine) have been reported to develop Aβ deposits and neurofibrillary tangles in the same individual. Here, the authors demonstrate the spontaneous occurrence of Aβ deposits and neurofibrillary tangles in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Among 22 cheetahs examined in this study, Aβ deposits were observed in 13. Immunostaining (AT8) revealed abnormal intracellular tau immunoreactivity in 10 of the cheetahs with Aβ deposits, and they were mainly distributed in the parahippocampal cortex and CA1 in a fashion similar to that in human patients with Alzheimer disease. Ultrastructurally, bundles of straight filaments filled the neuronal somata and axons, consistent with tangles. Interestingly, 2 of the cheetahs with the most severe abnormal tau immunoreactivity showed clinical cognitive dysfunction. The authors conclude that cheetahs spontaneously develop age-related neurodegenerative disease with pathologic changes similar to Alzheimer disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Serizawa
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
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Landsberg GM, Denenberg S, Araujo JA. Cognitive dysfunction in cats: a syndrome we used to dismiss as 'old age'. J Feline Med Surg 2011; 12:837-48. [PMID: 20974401 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2010.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PRACTICAL RELEVANCE Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is a widely accepted diagnosis in dogs, with established treatment options. In cats, however, our understanding of cognitive dysfunction is still being shaped by ongoing research in the field, and limited treatment options are available. Recent clinical studies indicate that old age in the cat is accompanied by increased behavioural signs such as wandering, vocalization and night-time activity that are not attributable to identifiable medical problems. It is essential, therefore, that veterinarians include behavioural well-being in the routine care of senior cats. PATIENT GROUP While the exact age of onset is not established, studies suggest that age-related behavioural changes consistent with cognitive dysfunction are prevalent in cats as early as 10 years of age and that prevalence increases significantly in older cats. CLINICAL CHALLENGES The diagnosis of cognitive dysfunction requires the identification of geriatric behavioural changes that are not caused by other medical problems, although the two may not be mutually exclusive. Therefore, the practitioner must rely heavily on owner reports and history to ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment. The absence of any approved dietary or pharmaceutical interventions for cognitive dysfunction adds a further challenge, although several possibilities exist. EVIDENCE BASE This article draws on recent research that has produced neuropathological, cognitive and behavioural evidence for cognitive dysfunction in aging cats. As an impetus to further our understanding of this disease and potential treatment options, the authors propose a behavioural checklist that might aid in the clinical diagnosis of feline CDS and discuss treatment options that have proven successful in the canine counterpart of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary M Landsberg
- North Toronto Animal Clinic, Thornhill, Ontario L3T 2K9, Canada.
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Pittari J, RodaN I, Beekman G, Gunn-Moore D, Polzin D, Taboada J, Tuzio H, Zoran D. American Association of Feline Practitioners: Senior Care Guidelines. J Feline Med Surg 2009; 11:763-78. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2009.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Background Cats are the most popular pet in the United States and much of Northern Europe. Although 78% of owners consider their cats to be family members, many cats, particularly seniors, do not receive appropriate preventive care. 1 – 3 One of the main obstacles to owner compliance is the lack of a clear recommendation by the veterinary team. 4 Guidelines can help veterinarians to minimize this obstacle, strengthen the human-pet-veterinary bond, and improve the quality of life of cats. Goals The goals of this article are to assist veterinarians to: Deliver consistent high-quality care to senior cats. Promote longevity and improve the quality of life of senior cats by: recognizing and controlling health risk factors; facilitating and promoting early detection of disease; improving or maintaining residual organ function; and delaying the progression of common conditions. Define aspects of screening, diagnosis, treatment and anesthesia of senior cats.
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Reser JE. Alzheimer's disease and natural cognitive aging may represent adaptive metabolism reduction programs. BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN FUNCTIONS : BBF 2009; 5:13. [PMID: 19250550 PMCID: PMC2653533 DOI: 10.1186/1744-9081-5-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2008] [Accepted: 02/28/2009] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The present article examines several lines of converging evidence suggesting that the slow and insidious brain changes that accumulate over the lifespan, resulting in both natural cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD), represent a metabolism reduction program. A number of such adaptive programs are known to accompany aging and are thought to have decreased energy requirements for ancestral hunter-gatherers in their 30s, 40s and 50s. Foraging ability in modern hunter-gatherers declines rapidly, more than a decade before the average terminal age of 55 years. Given this, the human brain would have been a tremendous metabolic liability that must have been advantageously tempered by the early cellular and molecular changes of AD which begin to accumulate in all humans during early adulthood. Before the recent lengthening of life span, individuals in the ancestral environment died well before this metabolism reduction program resulted in clinical AD, thus there was never any selective pressure to keep adaptive changes from progressing to a maladaptive extent.Aging foragers may not have needed the same cognitive capacities as their younger counterparts because of the benefits of accumulated learning and life experience. It is known that during both childhood and adulthood metabolic rate in the brain decreases linearly with age. This trend is thought to reflect the fact that children have more to learn. AD "pathology" may be a natural continuation of this trend. It is characterized by decreasing cerebral metabolism, selective elimination of synapses and reliance on accumulating knowledge (especially implicit and procedural) over raw brain power (working memory). Over decades of subsistence, the behaviors of aging foragers became routinized, their motor movements automated and their expertise ingrained to a point where they no longer necessitated the first-rate working memory they possessed when younger and learning actively. Alzheimer changes selectively and precisely mediate an adaptation to this major life-history transition.AD symptomatology shares close similarities with deprivation syndromes in other animals including the starvation response. Both molecular and anatomical features of AD imitate brain changes that have been conceptualized as adaptive responses to low food availability in mammals and birds. Alzheimer's patients are known to express low overall metabolic rates and are genetically inclined to exhibit physiologically thrifty traits widely thought to allow mammals to subsist under conditions of nutritional scarcity. Additionally, AD is examined here in the contexts of anthropology, comparative neuroscience, evolutionary medicine, expertise, gerontology, neural Darwinism, neuroecology and the thrifty genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared Edward Reser
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, 16380 Meadow Ridge Road, Encino CA 91436, USA.
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36
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Ageing does not significantly affect performance in a spatial learning task in the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus). Appl Anim Behav Sci 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2007.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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37
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Gunn-Moore D, Moffat K, Christie LA, Head E. Cognitive dysfunction and the neurobiology of ageing in cats. J Small Anim Pract 2007; 48:546-53. [PMID: 17617164 DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-5827.2007.00386.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
With improvements in nutrition and veterinary medicine the life expectancy of pet cats is increasing. Accompanying this growing geriatric population there are increasing numbers of cats with signs of apparent senility. A recent study suggests that 28 per cent of pet cats aged 11 to 14 years develop at least one geriatric onset behavioural problem, and this increases to over 50 per cent for cats of 15 years of age or older. While behavioural changes may result from systemic illness, organic brain disease or true behavioural problems, the possibility of age-related cognitive dysfunction is often overlooked. Studies have revealed a number of changes in the brains of geriatric cats that showed signs of cognitive dysfunction, and potential causes include vascular insufficiency leading to hypoxia, increased free radical damage and the deposition of beta-amyloid plaques and/or the modification of other proteins. By recognising the importance of behavioural changes in old cats, investigating them fully for potentially treatable medical conditions, and instigating dietary and environmental modifications to meet their changing needs, we can make the lives of our geriatric cats much more comfortable and rewarding.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Gunn-Moore
- Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Hospital for Small Animals, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
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