Congenital Myasthenia Gravis in Smooth-Haired Miniature Dachshund Dogs

Abstract

Three 8-week-old Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund littermates were diagnosed with myasthenia gravis based on clinical signs, results of electrophysiological testing, and response to the short-acting anticholinesterase drug, edrophonium chloride. Congenital myasthenia gravis was confirmed by the demonstration of decreased acetylcholine-receptor density in external intercostal muscle in the absence of demonstrable serum antiacetylcholine receptor antibody or antibodies complexed to acetylcholine receptors in muscle biopsy samples. Unlike most previously reported cases of congenital myasthenia gravis that are relentlessly progressive, clinical signs resolved spontaneously by 6 months of age.

Canine muscle cell culture and consecutive patch-clamp measurements - a new approach to characterize muscular diseases in dogs

“…Although a thoroughly electrophysiological evaluation of the expressed channels in normal myotubes still has to be performed, future studies of electrophysiological properties of cells from muscular diseased animals could be compared with those of healthy animals to identify illness underlying pathophysiological mechanisms [24]. This would allow the characterisation of canine skeletal muscle channelopathies, including voltage- and possibly ligand-gated channels or functional deficits in the sarcolemma of inherited myopathies [2,3,41,42]. Another useful application would be the functional characterisation of myogenic cells that carry already genetically identified mutations with an unknown function.…”

Myasthenia gravis in dogs with an emphasis on treatment and critical care management

“…Some dogs will have ptosis of the upper eyelids, drooping of the lips, sialosis, regurgitation, or dysphagia. 7 In contrast to people and cats, dogs are prone to megaesophagus because the canine esophagus contains more skeletal muscle than smooth muscle. In 1 study, evaluating 25 dogs that were seropositive for MG, 84% had megaesophagus.…”

“…5,6 In a report from 2005, 3 miniature Smooth-haired Dachshund littermates were diagnosed with MG at 8 weeks of age, and clinical signs resolved by 6 months of age. 7 The most common form of MG, acquired MG, is an immune-mediated disorder in which autoantibodies (typically of the immunoglobulin G class) target postsynaptic nicotinic AChRs of skeletal muscle. 1,8,9 Familial autoimmune MG has been reported in Newfoundland 10 and Great Dane dogs.…”

Neurologie bei Hunde- und Katzenwelpen

“…Bei Zwergdackeln gibt es ein kongenitales myasthenes Syndrom, das sich im Lauf der Entwicklung mit ca. 6 Monaten verliert und dann keine weitere Therapie erforderlich macht (5).…”