2014/12/05 by J. S. Munday, John S. Munday, G. Diane Shelton +5
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Biotin and Related Studies #Muscle Physiology and Disorders #Virus-based gene therapy research
paper · doi:10.1111/jsap.12306
crossref issued 2014/12/05 · crossref published 2014/12/05 · crossref published-online 2014/12/05 · openalex publication_date 2014/12/05 · crossref created 2014/12/09 · crossref published-print 2015/06/01 · crossref deposited 2023/10/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref indexed 2026/07/28 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
A four-month-old female Dobermann presented with myalgia, dysphagia, progressive weakness and loss of body condition. Diagnostic evaluation at nine months of age revealed markedly elevated serum creatine kinase activity, electromyographic abnormalities and histological evidence of chronic-active muscle necrosis. Imaging confirmed dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia. Muscular dystrophy was suspected and immunohistochemical staining of muscle cryosections demonstrated reduced sarcoglycans. Treatment consisted of gastrostomy, and over the next 5 months the dog gained weight, despite continued loss of muscle mass. The dog died at 14 months of age after developing clinical signs of aspiration pneumonia. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of muscular dystrophy in a Dobermann and only the second detailed report of a canine sarcoglycanopathy. Supportive care resulted in an acceptable quality of life for 10 months after clinical signs were first observed.