Clinical and pathologic features of neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

Vet Pathol. 2011 Nov;48(6):1185-9. doi: 10.1177/0300985811400441. Epub 2011 Mar 7.

Abstract

Clinical and pathologic features of neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis in a 4-month-old ferret are reported. Clinical signs including neurological symptoms appeared at 3 months of age and progressed rapidly. By magnetic resonance imaging, severe cerebral atrophy was recognized. Histopathologically, there was severe neuronal loss and diffuse astrogliosis with macrophage accumulations; lesions were found predominantly in the cerebral cortex. Intracytoplasmic pigments were observed in surviving neurons and macrophages throughout the brain. The pigments were intensely positive for periodic acid-Schiff, Luxol fast blue, and Sudan black B and exhibited a green autofluorescence. Electron microscopic examination revealed the accumulation of electron-dense granular material within lysosomes of neurons and macrophages. Immunohistochemically, a large number of saposin-positive granules accumulated in the neuronal cells, astrocytes, and macrophages of the lesions, but significant immunoreactivity for subunit c of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate synthase was not observed. Based on these findings, the animal was diagnosed as affected by neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Brain / ultrastructure
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / ultrastructure
  • Euthanasia, Animal
  • Female
  • Ferrets*
  • Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases / metabolism
  • Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinoses / pathology
  • Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinoses / veterinary*
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Rabbits
  • Saposins / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Saposins
  • mitochondrial ATPase subunit c
  • Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases