Introduction

Classification

• Staggering disease is associated with a non-suppurative meningoencephalitis.
• Previously thought to be a result of infection with Borna disease virus Borna disease virus but a recent study demonstrated that 0/29 of affected cats tested negative on immunohistochemistry and PCR for Borna disease virus.
• Subsequently 28/29 of these cats tested positive for Rustrela disease (RusV) virus using a metagenomic approach.
• RusV is an RNA virus.

Taxonomy

• Family: Matonaviridae.
• Order: Hepelivirales.
• Genus: Rubivirus.

Etymology

• RusV is a close relative of rubella virus (which causes rubella in people).
• The virus was discovered in the brain tissues of three acutely ill animals at a zoo in north-east Germany close to the Baltic sea and given the name Rustrela based on the nearby location, Strela Sound.

Clinical Effects

Pathological effects

• Natural disease in cats can be observed in any cat over 6 months of age.
• Seasonal occurrence, with more cases in winter and spring than summer and autumn.
• Postulated to be associated with fluctuating numbers of yellow-necked field mice (reservoir host) and movement of mice indoors during colder months where they become easy prey for cats.
• The signs progress over 1 to 4 weeks; the clinical condition either deteriorates, resulting in euthanasia, or stabilizes, leaving most cats permanently affected with motor dysfunction, personality changes, or both.
• In cats that survive the initial infection, the clinical signs most often relapse.
• Incubation period of RusV is unknown.
• Clinical disease is characterized by:
  • Neurologic signs often follow a few days of non-specific illness.
  • Hind-limb ataxia Ataxia.
  • Hind-limb paresis.
  • Seizures Seizures.
  • Mentation changes.
  • Loss of ability to retract claws.
  • Anorexia Anorexia.
  • Hypersalivation.
  • Hypersensitivity to light and sound.
  • Visual impairment.
• Disease is usually progressive but can also follow a remitting and relapsing course.

Control

Control via animal

• No treatment or vaccines.

Control via environment

• Prevent access to rodents.

Diagnosis

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed Papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Matiasek K, Pfaff F, Weissenbock H et al (2023) Mystery of fatal ‘Staggering disease’ unravelled: Novel rustrela virus causes severe encephalomyelitis in domestic cats. Nat Commun 14(1), 624 PubMed DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36204-w.
• Bennett A J, Paskey A C, Ebinger A et al (2020) Relatives of rubella virus in diverse mammals. Nature 586, 424-428 PubMed DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2812-9.