Canine cerebellar cortical abiotrophy in two mixed breed littermates

DEL AMO AN; DIESSLER ME; MASSONE AR; IDIART JR; PORTIANSKY EL

ANALECTA VETERINARIA

FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS VETERINARIAS, UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE LA PLATA

Año: 2009 vol. 29 p. 39 - 41

Neuronal abiotrophy is an inherited premature degeneration of neurons due to an abnormality of the cell metabolism, which often begins in the first months of life. Onset of signs is progressive and occurs weeks or even years later. The aim of the work was to describe 2 cases of canine abiotrophy in mixed breed littermates. Two 45-day-old male and female puppies from a litter of four were examined due to muscle tremors and ataxia. Affected puppies exhibited ataxia, wide based stance, loss of balance, vocalization and head tilt to the left side. Postural reactions were slowed down and there was loss of menance response. When inability to stand worsened, euthanasia and necropsy were performed. Samples were collected for histopathological studies. Number of Purkinje cells was calculated by means of morphometric analysis. Lectinhistochemistry was performed in affected and normal tissues. Reduction in cerebellar size was observed. Comparing to control tissues, a marked decrease in Purkinje cells was found. They were eosinophilic and swollen. Differences in cellular count (normal/death) in normal and affected cerebellum were significant. None of the lectins tested showed affinity for cytoplasmic components. Differential diagnoses were excluded owing to course, clinical, pathological, image analysis and lectinhistochemical findings. An abnormality of the cell metabolism, which often begins in the first months of life. Onset of signs is progressive and occurs weeks or even years later. The aim of the work was to describe 2 cases of canine abiotrophy in mixed breed littermates. Two 45-day-old male and female puppies from a litter of four were examined due to muscle tremors and ataxia. Affected puppies exhibited ataxia, wide based stance, loss of balance, vocalization and head tilt to the left side. Postural reactions were slowed down and there was loss of menance response. When inability to stand worsened, euthanasia and necropsy were performed. Samples were collected for histopathological studies. Number of Purkinje cells was calculated by means of morphometric analysis. Lectinhistochemistry was performed in affected and normal tissues. Reduction in cerebellar size was observed. Comparing to control tissues, a marked decrease in Purkinje cells was found. They were eosinophilic and swollen. Differences in cellular count (normal/death) in normal and affected cerebellum were significant. None of the lectins tested showed affinity for cytoplasmic components. Differential diagnoses were excluded owing to course, clinical, pathological, image analysis and lectinhistochemical findings. n abnormality of the cell metabolism, which often begins in the first months of life. Onset of signs is progressive and occurs weeks or even years later. The aim of the work was to describe 2 cases of canine abiotrophy in mixed breed littermates. Two 45-day-old male and female puppies from a litter of four were examined due to muscle tremors and ataxia. Affected puppies exhibited ataxia, wide based stance, loss of balance, vocalization and head tilt to the left side. Postural reactions were slowed down and there was loss of menance response. When inability to stand worsened, euthanasia and necropsy were performed. Samples were collected for histopathological studies. Number of Purkinje cells was calculated by means of morphometric analysis. Lectinhistochemistry was performed in affected and normal tissues. Reduction in cerebellar size was observed. Comparing to control tissues, a marked decrease in Purkinje cells was found. They were eosinophilic and swollen. Differences in cellular count (normal/death) in normal and affected cerebellum were significant. None of the lectins tested showed affinity for cytoplasmic components. Differential diagnoses were excluded owing to course, clinical, pathological, image analysis and lectinhistochemical findings.