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Rohdin C, Ljungvall I, Jäderlund KH, Svensson A, Lindblad-Toh K, Häggström J. Assessment of glial fibrillary acidic protein and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein autoantibody concentrations and necrotising meningoencephalitis risk genotype in dogs with pug dog myelopathy. Vet Rec 2024; 194:e3895. [PMID: 38704817 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.3895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pugs commonly present with thoracolumbar myelopathy, also known as pug dog myelopathy (PDM), which is clinically characterised by progressive signs involving the pelvic limbs, no apparent signs of pain and, often, incontinence. In addition to meningeal fibrosis and focal spinal cord destruction, histopathology has confirmed lymphohistiocytic infiltrates in the central nervous system (CNS) in a considerable number of pugs with PDM. Lymphohistiocytic CNS inflammation also characterises necrotising meningoencephalitis (NME) in pugs. This study aimed to investigate the potential contribution of an immunological aetiology to the development of PDM. METHODS The concentrations of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in serum and CSF and of anti-GFAP autoantibodies in CSF were measured with an ELISA. In addition, a commercial test was used for genetic characterisation of the dog leukocyte antigen class II haplotype, which is associated with NME susceptibility. RESULTS This study included 87 dogs: 52 PDM pugs, 14 control pugs, four NME pugs and 17 dogs of breeds other than pugs that were investigated for neurological disease (neuro controls). Anti-GFAP autoantibodies were present in 15 of 19 (79%) of the PDM pugs tested versus six of 16 (38%) of the neuro controls tested (p = 0.018). All 18 PDM pugs evaluated had detectable CSF GFAP. Serum GFAP was detected in two of three (67%) of the NME pugs and in two of 11 (18%) of the control pugs but not in any of the 40 tested PDM pugs. Male pugs heterozygous for the NME risk haplotype had an earlier onset of clinical signs (70 months) compared to male pugs without the risk haplotype (78 months) (p = 0.036). LIMITATIONS The study was limited by the lack of healthy dogs of breeds other than pugs and the small numbers of control pugs and pugs with NME. CONCLUSIONS The high proportion of PDM pugs with anti-GFAP autoantibodies and high CSF GFAP concentrations provide support for a potential immunological contribution to the development of PDM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Rohdin
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- Anicura, Albano Small Animal Hospital, Danderyd, Sweden
| | - Ingrid Ljungvall
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Hultin Jäderlund
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Anna Svensson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kerstin Lindblad-Toh
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jens Häggström
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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De Decker S, Rohdin C, Gutierrez-Quintana R. Vertebral and spinal malformations in small brachycephalic dog breeds: Current knowledge and remaining questions. Vet J 2024; 304:106095. [PMID: 38458418 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Small brachycephalic dog breeds, such as the French bulldog, English bulldog and pug have become increasingly popular. These breeds are predisposed to a variety of vertebral and spinal malformations, including hemivertebra, caudal articular process dysplasia, transitional vertebra, cranial thoracic vertebral canal stenosis, spinal arachnoid diverticulum and meningeal fibrosis. Recent studies have provided new insights into the prevalence, anatomical characteristics, pathophysiology and treatment of these conditions. Thoracic hemivertebra, caudal articular process dysplasia, transitional vertebra, and cranial thoracic vertebral canal stenosis occur commonly in neurologically normal dogs. Although the clinical relevance of these vertebral anomalies has therefore been questioned, severe kyphosis and hemivertebra in pugs have been associated with an increased likelihood of neurological signs. Meningeal fibrosis is characterised by the formation of dense intradural fibrotic adhesions, constricting the spinal cord. This condition has been heavily associated with the pug breed. It is in pugs further common to observe multiple concurrent spinal disorder in association with chronic progressive pelvic limb gait abnormalities. This clinical presentation has been referred to as 'pug dog thoracolumbar myelopathy' and potential genetic risk factors have recently been identified. Despite our increased knowledge, many questions remain currently unanswered. This review discusses our current understanding and controversies surrounding vertebral and spinal malformations in small brachycephalic dog breeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven De Decker
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK.
| | - Cecilia Rohdin
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, University Animal Hospital, Uppsala 75007, Sweden; Anicura Albano Small Animal Hospital, Danderyd 18236, Sweden
| | - Rodrigo Gutierrez-Quintana
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
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Anagrius KL, Dimopoulou M, Moe AN, Petterson A, Ljungvall I. Facial conformation characteristics in Persian and Exotic Shorthair cats. J Feline Med Surg 2021; 23:1089-1097. [PMID: 33655782 PMCID: PMC8637354 DOI: 10.1177/1098612x21997631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The primary objectives of the study were to examine the diversity in facial conformation characteristics within a group of Persian (PER) and Exotic Shorthair (EXO) show cats, and to contrast the results to findings within a group of non-purebred domestic shorthair (DSH) and domestic longhair (DLH) cats. The secondary objectives were to determine the PER/EXO show cat owners' perceptions of the breathing status of their cats, and to evaluate if remarks from the cat show judges concerning the cats' head and facial conformation were exclusively related to the aesthetic features of the cats. METHODS Sixty-four PER and 12 EXO show cats were prospectively examined at five international cat shows, and 20 DSH/DLH cats were examined at an animal hospital. Facial conformation characteristics were evaluated by examining photos of the cats. Owners of the PER/EXO show cats answered a questionnaire concerning their cats' health status, and they were encouraged to send in the judges' score sheets from the cat shows. RESULTS The PER/EXO show cats had higher diversity in facial conformation characteristics than the DSH/DLH cats, and high incidences of hypoplasia of the nose leather (95%), the nose leather top positioned above the level of the lower eyelid (93%), moderate-to-severe stenotic nares (86%), epiphora (83%) and entropion (32%). Owners of 6/76 PER/EXO show cats stated that their cat had increased respiratory sounds and/or trouble breathing at least once a week. The cat show judges' written comments were exclusively related to aesthetic features of the cats' head and facial conformation details. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Hypoplasia of the nose leather, high position of the nose leather top, stenotic nares, epiphora and entropion were common findings in the PER/EXO show cats but not in the DSH/DLH cats. Few of the cat owners perceived that their cat had problems related to the airways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin L Anagrius
- University Animal Hospital, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Dimopoulou
- University Animal Hospital, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna N Moe
- Anicura, Roslagen Animal Clinic, Norrtälje, Sweden
| | - Ann Petterson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ingrid Ljungvall
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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Mills DS, Demontigny-Bédard I, Gruen M, Klinck MP, McPeake KJ, Barcelos AM, Hewison L, Van Haevermaet H, Denenberg S, Hauser H, Koch C, Ballantyne K, Wilson C, Mathkari CV, Pounder J, Garcia E, Darder P, Fatjó J, Levine E. Pain and Problem Behavior in Cats and Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E318. [PMID: 32085528 PMCID: PMC7071134 DOI: 10.3390/ani10020318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We argue that there is currently an under-reporting of the ways in which pain can be associated with problem behavior, which is seriously limiting the recognition of this welfare problem. A review of the caseloads of 100 recent dog cases of several authors indicates that a conservative estimate of around a third of referred cases involve some form of painful condition, and in some instances, the figure may be nearly 80%. The relationship is often complex but always logical. Musculoskeletal but also painful gastro-intestinal and dermatological conditions are commonly recognized as significant to the animal's problem behavior. The potential importance of clinical abnormalities such as an unusual gait or unexplained behavioral signs should not be dismissed by clinicians in general practice, even when they are common within a given breed. In general, it is argued that clinicians should err on the side of caution when there is a suspicion that a patient could be in pain by carefully evaluating the patient's response to trial analgesia, even if a specific physical lesion has not been identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel S. Mills
- Animal Behavior, Cognition & Welfare Group, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK; (K.J.M.); (A.M.B.); (L.H.); (H.V.H.); (J.P.)
| | | | - Margaret Gruen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA;
| | - Mary P. Klinck
- Veterinary Behavior Consultant, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X0A6, Canada;
| | - Kevin J. McPeake
- Animal Behavior, Cognition & Welfare Group, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK; (K.J.M.); (A.M.B.); (L.H.); (H.V.H.); (J.P.)
| | - Ana Maria Barcelos
- Animal Behavior, Cognition & Welfare Group, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK; (K.J.M.); (A.M.B.); (L.H.); (H.V.H.); (J.P.)
| | - Lynn Hewison
- Animal Behavior, Cognition & Welfare Group, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK; (K.J.M.); (A.M.B.); (L.H.); (H.V.H.); (J.P.)
| | - Himara Van Haevermaet
- Animal Behavior, Cognition & Welfare Group, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK; (K.J.M.); (A.M.B.); (L.H.); (H.V.H.); (J.P.)
| | - Sagi Denenberg
- Langford Veterinary Services, University of Bristol, Langford BS40 5DU, UK;
- North Toronto Veterinary Behavior Specialty Clinic, Thornhill, ON L3T 2K9, Canada
| | - Hagar Hauser
- Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3900 Delancey Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Colleen Koch
- Animal Behavior Services, Lincoln Land Animal Clinic, Jacksonville, IL 62650, USA;
| | - Kelly Ballantyne
- Insight Animal Behavior Services, P.C., 815 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60607, USA;
| | | | - Chirantana V Mathkari
- Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, MD 20742, USA;
| | - Julia Pounder
- Animal Behavior, Cognition & Welfare Group, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK; (K.J.M.); (A.M.B.); (L.H.); (H.V.H.); (J.P.)
| | - Elena Garcia
- Ars Veterinaria Hospital. Carrer dels Cavallers, 37, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (E.G.); (P.D.); (J.F.)
| | - Patrícia Darder
- Ars Veterinaria Hospital. Carrer dels Cavallers, 37, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (E.G.); (P.D.); (J.F.)
| | - Jaume Fatjó
- Ars Veterinaria Hospital. Carrer dels Cavallers, 37, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (E.G.); (P.D.); (J.F.)
| | - Emily Levine
- Animal Behavior Clinic of New Jersey, 240 Humphrey St, Englewood, NJ 07631, USA;
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Rohdin C, Ljungvall I, Häggström J, Leijon A, Lindblad-Toh K, Matiasek K, Rosati M, Wohlsein P, Jäderlund KH. Thoracolumbar meningeal fibrosis in pugs. J Vet Intern Med 2020; 34:797-807. [PMID: 32003496 PMCID: PMC7096664 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Thoracolumbar myelopathies associated with spinal cord and vertebral column lesions, with a similar clinical phenotype, but different underlying etiologies, occur in pugs. Objectives To further characterize the clinical and neuropathological characteristics of pugs with longstanding thoracolumbar myelopathy. Animals Thirty client‐owned pure‐bred pugs with a history of more than a month of ataxia and paresis of the pelvic limbs, suggesting a myelopathy localized to the thoracolumbar spinal cord, were included in the study. Methods Prospective clinicopathological study. Included pugs underwent a complete neurological examination and gross and histopathologic postmortem studies with focus on the spinal cord. Computed tomography (n = 18), magnetic resonance imaging (n = 17), and cerebrospinal fluid analysis (n = 27) were performed before or immediately after death. Results Twenty male and 10 female pugs had a median age at clinical onset of 84 months (interquartile range, 66‐96). Affected pugs presented with a progressive clinical course and 80% were incontinent. There was circumferential meningeal fibrosis with concomitant focal, malacic, destruction of the neuroparenchyma in the thoracolumbar spinal cord in 24/30 pugs. Vertebral lesions accompanied the focal spinal cord lesion, and there was lympho‐histiocytic inflammation associated or not to the parenchymal lesion in 43% of the pugs. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Meningeal fibrosis with associated focal spinal cord destruction and neighboring vertebral column lesions were common findings in pugs with long‐standing thoracolumbar myelopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Rohdin
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.,Anicura Albano Small Animal Hospital, Danderyd, Sweden
| | - Ingrid Ljungvall
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jens Häggström
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alexandra Leijon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health (BVF), Section of Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kerstin Lindblad-Toh
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Kaspar Matiasek
- Section of Clinical and Comparative Neuropathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Marco Rosati
- Section of Clinical and Comparative Neuropathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Wohlsein
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Karin Hultin Jäderlund
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
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Rohdin C, Häggström J, Ljungvall I, Nyman Lee H, De Decker S, Bertram S, Lindblad-Toh K, Hultin Jäderlund K. Presence of thoracic and lumbar vertebral malformations in pugs with and without chronic neurological deficits. Vet J 2018; 241:24-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 09/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Jeandel A, Garosi L. Gait abnormalities in brachycephalic breeds: should we be more concerned? Vet Rec 2018; 182:164-166. [PMID: 29440606 DOI: 10.1136/vr.k467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aurelien Jeandel
- Davies Veterinary Specialists, Manor Farm Business Park, Higham Gobion, Herts, SG5 3HT, UK
| | - Laurent Garosi
- Davies Veterinary Specialists, Manor Farm Business Park, Higham Gobion, Herts, SG5 3HT, UK
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