Dystrophy of the Diaphragmatic Muscles in Adult Meuse-Rhine-Yssel Cattle: Electromyographical and Histological Findings

Abstract

Abstract. Electromyographic investigation ofdiaphragmatic muscles of Meuse-Rhine-Yssel cattle revealed a significant decreased duration of action potentials, while the number of polyphasic potentials was increased in four of seven cows. Histologically, the diaphragmatic muscles in all cows were affected severely, as characterized by variation in size of individual fibers, abundant vacuolar and hyaline degeneration with occasional fragmentation and phagocytosis, fiber splitting, apparent increase in internal nuclei, vesicular nuclei, chains of central nuclei, absence of regeneration, and proliferation of endomysial and perimysial connective tissue. Core-like structures seemed to be a hallmark of the disease. The intercostal muscles in all cows had core-like structures and some variation in fiber size; degenerative lesions did occur, but were less severe than in diaphragmatic muscles. In other skeletal muscles and cardiac muscles, core-like structures were present predominantly, indicating a generaIized muscle disorder. No lesions were detected in the peripheral or central nervous systems.The muscular alterations were classified as a progressive muscular dystrophy, with a suspicion of hereditary transmission. This dystrophy may be an important animal model.

Lipomatous muscular ‘dystrophy’ of Piedmontese cattle

“…Internal nuclei were reported in cattle dystrophy of the diaphragmatic muscles (Goedegebuure et al, 1983) and in some human dystrophy as myotonic dystrophy (Casanova and Jerusalem, 1979;Nadaj-Pakleza et al, 2011). The presence of nuclear clumps represents a marker of fibres atrophy and it also occurs in limb girdle and chronic dystrophies (Dubowitz and Sewry, 2007).…”

“…In humans, myopathy is divided into several entities, such as diseases of the lower motor neuron, dystrophies, congenital myopathies, nutritional myopathies, metabolic and endocrine myopathies, inflammatory myopathies and a miscellaneous group (Goedegebuure et al, 1983). Similarly to humans the classification of myopathies in animals is subject to modification based on findings of on-going genetic and pathogenetic studies as well as on changes in disease definitions ( Van Vleet and Valentine, 2007).…”

Congenital Myopathy in Japanese Black Calves

“…This hereditary disease affected adult cows of 2-10 years of age exclusively, and mainly the diaphragm [3,6,13]. Recurrent ruminal tympany was clinically observed.…”

“…A suspected hereditary myopathy was reported in Jersey calves that had developed kyphosis [10]. Hereditary bovine muscular dystrophies affecting adult cows are reported in the Meuse-Rhine-Yssel cattle of the Netherlands [6] and Holstein-Friesian cattle [3,13]. A congenital dystrophy-like myopathy has been reported in a single Friesian calf, which showed progressive weakness from birth [8].…”

“…Muscular dystrophy in cattle has been described in Meuse-Rhine-Yssel cattle [6] and Holstein-Friesian cattle [3,13]. This hereditary disease affected adult cows of 2-10 years of age exclusively, and mainly the diaphragm [3,6,13].…”