Myotonic dystrophy in two European grey wolves (Canis lupus).

Two related European Grey wolves (Canis lupus) with the history of muscle stiffness beginning at 2 weeks of age were examined in this study. Muscle tone and muscle mass were increased in both animals. Muscle stiffness was worsened by stress so that the animals fell into lateral recumbency. Blood chemistry revealed mildly increased serum creatine kinase activity. Abnormal potentials typical of myotonic discharges were recorded by electromyography. Cataract, first-degree atrioventricular (AV) block and inhomogeneous myocardial texture by ultrasound suggested extramuscular involvement. Myopathology demonstrated dystrophic signs in the muscle biopsy specimen. The presumptive diagnosis based on the in vivo findings was myotonic dystrophy. Immunochemistry of the striated muscles revealed focal absence of dystrophin 1 and beta-dystroglycan in both cases. Cardiac and ophthalmologic involvement suggested a disorder very similar to a human form of myotonic dystrophy. This is the first description of myotonic dystrophy in wolves.

Plexogenic pulmonary arteriopathy in a Pembroke Welsh corgi.

A 21-month-old, male Pembroke Welsh corgi was referred for investigation of respiratory distress and progressive lethargy. Cardiac evaluation revealed a grade 4 pansystolic murmur over the left and right heart base. A heart murmur, dyspnoea, cyanosis, prolonged capillary refill time and ascites led to the tentative diagnosis of a cardiac malformation with a right-to-left shunt, with likely additional pulmonary disease. Pulmonary hypertension became evident during echocardiography, when the estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure was over 70 mmHg. Angiography revealed abnormal pulmonary vascular markings consistent with pulmonary hypertension and a small right-to-left shunting patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). The diagnosis of PDA was confirmed at postmortem examination. Histology of the pulmonary arteries showed lesions of plexogenic pulmonary arteriopathy. The question of whether both conditions were separate or part of the same clinical syndrome is discussed in this report.

Benign intrapericardial lipoma in a dog.

SUMMARY: Canine lipomas generally develop in subcutaneous tissue. Intrapericardial lipomas are extremely rare benign tumours and can develop on the pericardial surface of the heart or inside the cardiac chambers. As the thoracic cavity is an unusual site for lipomas in dogs, we describe, clinically and pathologically, a case of intrapericardial lipoma in an 18-months old German Shepherd.