Abstract #1117

Increased Brain Diffusion Detected Using DWI-MR in Cats Infected with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Susan Kraft¹, Susan VandeWoude¹, Dan Bucy¹, Mark Brown², Annette Bachand³, Lisbeth Sestina³, Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann³, John Elder⁴

¹Colorado State University, Fort Collins , CO, USA; ²Physics Consulting Services for MRI and MRS, Arvada, CO, USA; ³Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; ⁴Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA

MR diffusion weighted imaging and MR spectroscopy were used 4 months post-inoculation to study the neuropathophysiology associated with feline immunodeficiency virus infection in cats inoculated with either a neurotropic viral strain (FIV-A-PPR) or an immunopathogenic strain (FIV-C-PG). No abnormalities were visualized on anatomic MRI scans and the MR spectroscopy findings did not differ between groups. However, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was significantly increased in multiple brain regions, which varied regionally by viral-strain, despite only subtle histopathologic changes and low brain proviral load. This is a characteristic also described in human HIV patients with neuroAIDS, making this a relevant animal model.