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Late‐onset Becker‐type muscular dystrophy in a Border terrier dog
Author(s) -
Jeandel A.,
Garosi L. S.,
Davies L.,
Guo L. T.,
Salgüero R.,
Shelton G. D.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/jsap.12824
Subject(s) - medicine , muscular dystrophy , myopathy , creatine kinase , dystrophin , histopathology , myositis , exercise intolerance , pathology , physical examination , heart failure
A 9‐year‐old Border terrier was presented to a referral hospital after a 1‐year history of progressive stiffness and exercise intolerance. Neurological examination was consistent with a neuromuscular disorder. Serum creatine kinase activity was mildly elevated. A myopathy was suspected based on MRI findings and electrophysiological examination. Muscle histopathology was consistent with a severe non‐inflammatory myopathy of a dystrophic type. Immunofluorescence and western blotting confirmed a dystrophinopathy with an 80‐kDa truncated dystrophin fragment similar to Becker muscular dystrophy in people. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a late‐onset Becker‐type muscular dystrophy in a dog, and the first description of a dystrophinopathy in a Border terrier. Muscular dystrophy in dogs should not be ruled out based on late onset clinical signs and only mildly elevated creatine kinase.