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Mitochondrial myopathy in a german shepherd dog
O Paciello1, P Maiolino, G Fatone
1Dipartimento di Patologia e Sanità Animale-Settore Anatomia Patologica, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino, 1,80137 Naples, Italy.
Veterinary Pathology
|September 2, 2003
Summary
This study details a German Shepherd with exercise intolerance, revealing mitochondrial myopathy. Muscle biopsies showed ragged red fibers and abnormal mitochondria, indicating a rare canine muscle disease.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Canine Medicine
- Mitochondrial Diseases
Background:
- Progressive exercise intolerance in a young German Shepherd prompted investigation.
- Clinical signs included stiff gait, muscle atrophy, and hypotonia.
- Elevated muscle enzymes (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase) suggested myopathy.
Observation:
- Histochemical analysis of muscle biopsies revealed subsarcolemmal oxidative activity.
- Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and succinate dehydrogenase activity were noted.
- Gomori trichrome staining demonstrated characteristic ragged red fibers.
Findings:
- Cytochrome oxidase activity was absent in affected muscle fibers.
- Ultrastructural examination confirmed subsarcolemmal accumulation of abnormal mitochondria.
- Morphologically atypical mitochondria were identified within muscle cells.
Implications:
- This case highlights a mitochondrial myopathy in a canine patient.
- Findings contribute to understanding canine neuromuscular disorders.
- Suggests the need for considering mitochondrial disease in dogs with unexplained myopathy.