Dysautonomia in dogs: 65 cases (1993–2000)

Abstract

Dysautonomia is an endemic disease in Kansas, and a high index of suspicion of the disease can be made by combining clinical signs, physical examination findings, and results of pharmacologic testing.

Dysautonomia and Salmonellosis in an 11‐Year‐Old Female Llama (Lama glama)

“…The neuronal degeneration and necrosis of the right ciliary, cranial mesenteric, and iliac ganglia, as well as degeneration of autonomic nerves, were consistent with dysautonomia, especially in light of the clinical signs of bladder distension, dilated rectum, decreased anal tone, dilated unresponsive pupils, GI stasis, and regurgitation. 3,5 The cause of the neuronal lesions was not evident from the gross or histopathologic examination. However, a case of acute autonomic neuropathy associated with a concurrent Salmonella typhi infection has been reported in a human patient.…”

“…3 Dysautonomia occurs in various regions of the world with a cluster of cases having been reported in dogs in Kansas and Missouri. 5,8 The etiology of the disease is unknown, but acquired dysautonomia has been hypothesized to result from a neurotoxin liberated from Clostridium spp. in the gut, 3 a mycotoxin, 9 or autoimmunity.…”

“…The dysuria, distended bladder, dilated unresponsive pupils, lack of anal tone, and dilated rectum, in conjunction with anorexia and GI stasis, were consistent with previously reported cases of dysautonomia in dogs and horses. 5,6 Tropane alkaloids such as atropine, hyoscyamine, hyoscine, and scopolamine were considered as possible intoxicants because of their parasympatholytic activity, but toxicity with these agents typically causes restlessness, tremors, and convulsions in concert with pupillary dilatation and recumbency. 6 The changes in the leukogram were consistent with bacterial infection, and, given the history of prolonged GI stasis and neutropenia, a Gram-negative organism was suspected.…”

Visceral Smooth Muscle α-Actin Deficiency Associated With Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction in a Bengal Cat (Felis catus × Prionailurus bengalensis)

“…1,2,10,11 In veterinary medicine, the differential list of GINMDs is significantly shorter and includes infiltrative intestinal neoplasia, 4 canine idiopathic sclerosing enteropathy/fibrosing gastrointestinal leiomyositis, 4,8 and dysautonomia. 5,9,17 Primary visceral neuropathies, interstitial cell diseases, and myopathies are presumed to occur based on the human correlate but have not been recognized previously. This report represents the first documented case of intestinal Knowles and Martin, 12 Knowles et al, 13 O'Donnell et al, 15 and Smith et al pseudo-obstruction associated with visceral smooth muscle abnormalities in a veterinary species and briefly reviews the current diagnostic algorithms and techniques for evaluating GINMD.…”

“…9,17 Unfortunately, only the intramural autonomic ganglia were available for evaluation. The cranial cervical, stellate, and abdominal ganglia (most commonly used for diagnosis) 5 and spinal cord were not sampled for histopathology. Therefore, it remains possible that an autonomic neuropathy could be at least contributory, if not causal.…”