| Diagnostic Case 1 - Answer |
Ophthalmic Pathology Service | Diagnostic Case Collection | Veterinary Pathology Menu
| Comment: There are several causes of retinal atrophy or degeneration in cats. These include diffuse idiopathic retinal atrophy, central retinal degeneration (CRD) and taurine deficiency. Diffuse idiopathic retinal atrophy has been described in Abyssinian and Burmese kittens. Affected kittens are blind. Although the cause is not known, the condition is thought to be hereditary. CRD has been described in several breeds of cats and is not associated with visual loss. Histologically, it is characterized by focal retinal degeneration adjacent to the optic disc. Taurine deficiency shares histologic characteristics of both of the conditions. Early lesions resemble CRD and become diffuse with chronicity. Diffuse loss of the outer nuclear and photoreceptor layers of the retina in conjunction with dilated cardiomyopathy is highly suggestive of taurine deficiency. In addition, taurine-deficient cats can develop reproductive problems, neurologic development disorders, and altered white cell function. Although taurine levels were not performed in this case, plasma taurine levels less than 30 mol/l in cats are considered deficient. |  |
| Fig
3. Section of normal cat retina on right; affected section on
left has diffuse retinal atrophy characterized by loss of the
outer nuclear layer and the photoreceptor layer. These changes
were diffuse and bilateral.
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References: Sturman J. Review: Taurine deficiency and the cat. Adv Exp Med Biol 315; 1-5: 1992 |
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| Morphological Diagnosis: Diffuse retinal atrophy, outer nuclear and photoreceptor layers | |