A leukomyeloencephalopathy of unknown origin in an Azawakh dog. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mandara, Maria Teresa; Reginato, Alice; Balducci, Federica; Bernardini, Marco
• Is Part Of: Research in veterinary science. Volume 113(2017)
• Page Start: 101
• Page End: 104
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: Azawakh -- Demyelination -- Dog -- Leukomyeloencephalopathy; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine vétérinaire -- Périodiques; Médecine vétérinaire -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Diergeneeskunde; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.09.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-5288

Abstract

Abstract: A diffuse bilaterally symmetrical leukomyeloencephalopathy was observed in a 6-year-old male Azawakh dog showing a slowly progressive ataxia of six months duration associated with sensory disorders. Severe bilaterally symmetrical demyelination and vacuolisation were confined to the dorsal columns along the entire spinal cord with a minor axonal degeneration. The main changes of myelin sheaths consisted in splitting and intramyelin vacuolization. Naked axons were scattered in a network of astrocytic processes and collagen fibres. Few reactive macrophages exhibiting a foamy pattern were observed adjacent to the small vessels. In the brain, cuneatus nuclei showed a number of atrophic neurons. A spongy change was observed in the raphe nuclei, spinal tract and nuclei of trigeminal nerve, and caudal cerebellar peduncles. Lesions there were neither in the spinal and trigeminal nerves, nor in the spinal ganglia. Although in the absence of a pedigree analysis support an inherited cause cannot be completely excluded. Highlights: This case represents the first neurodegenerative disease described in the Azawakh dog. Based on histology and TEM findings a primary dismyelinative process was considered. Although in the absence of a pedigree analysis support an inherited cause cannot be completely excluded.