Frequently, the origin of encephalitis in the animal remains unrecognized, thus
clinician, owners of the affected pet and patient itself, are left with considerable
uncertainty about treatment options and, hence, prognosis. Staggering disease
(SD), is a neurological disease entity, is considered as a threat to European
domestic cats (Felis catus). Its causative agent has remained undetermined
for almost five decades. Rustrela virus (RusV) genomic RNA and RusV antigen
detected by employing independent diagnostic assays, including RT-qPCR, genome
sequencing, immunochemistry and in situ hybridization, were consistently found in
majority of diseased cats. RusV, family Matonaviridae, genus Rubivirus is a close
relative of Rubella virus in humans. RusV was detected in brain of domestic cats
showing clinical signs of SD in Sweden, Germany, Austria, and other European
countries. The most prototypic clinical sign of staggering disease is hind limbs legs
ataxia with a generally increased muscle tone, resulting in a specific, staggering
gait. In addition, a broad range of other neurologic signs may occur, as the inability
to retract the claws, hyperesthesia and occasionally tremors and seizures.
Behavioral alterations may include enhanced vocalization, depression, becoming
more affectionate, and rarely, aggressive. The brain histopathology has showed
non-suppurative, predominantly lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalomyelitis
with angiocentric immune cell infiltration and perivascular cuffing, predominantly
in the grey matter. Molecular based procedures have strongly supported the
identification of RusV as an agent of staggering disease, however, Borna virus
is also considered as possible co-responsible in feline neurologic disorders. In
this article, current knowledge on SD was presented.