Diagnosis of breed specific polymyositis in two Hungarian vizslas.

N., Hinchy; A., Paul; S., Tzannes

Two unrelated Hungarian vizslas were referred to university teaching hospitals in Australia with histories of dysphagia, regurgitation, ptyalism, lethargy and weight loss. Physical examinations revealed significant atrophy of the masticatory and skeletal muscles. Both dogs had elevated serum creatine kinase activities. Thoracic and abdominal imaging was unremarkable. Serum Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum titres were within normal limits. For both dogs, muscle biopsies were taken from the masticatory and skeletal muscles for light microscopy, and serum was submitted for 2M antibody titres. The 2M antibody titres were negative for masticatory myositis. Light microscopy examination of all muscle biopsy samples identified a generalised inflammatory myopathy consistent with breed specific polymyositis recently identified in Hungarian vizslas in North America and the United Kingdom. The dogs were immunosuppressed with prednisolone and azathioprine. Treatment side effects were seen in both cases and each has been maintained on a single drug with owners reporting the dogs have a good quality of life.

VIZSLA; DEGLUTITION disorders; WEIGHT loss; MASTICATORY muscles; TOXOPLASMA gondii

Australian Veterinary Practitioner, 2013, Vol 43, Issue 3, p471

0310-138X

Academic Journal