Dystrophy-like myopathy in the cat

Two cases of feline myopathy are described which were associated with moderate locomotor disturbances. At necropsy, a pale coloured skeletal musculature was found with severe hypertrophy of diaphragmatic musculature. Histologically, the myopathy was characterized by varying fibre diameter, internal nuclei, moderate degeneration and necrosis of solitary muscle fibres and slight to moderate endomysial and perimysial fibrosis. Only very few regenerating muscle fibres were present. The histological findings are compatible with those found in human muscular dystrophies and so this feline myopathy may be considered as a dystrophy-like myopathy.