Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
GM1 gangliosidosis causing motor problems in Shiba dogs
By Yamato, O et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2000·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: GM1 gangliosidosis in shiba dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A six-month-old Shiba Inu was brought to the vet because it was having trouble moving and showed signs of a serious brain disorder, like unsteady walking and tremors in its head. Tests revealed that the dog had a genetic condition called GM1 gangliosidosis, which affects how the body breaks down certain fats in the brain. Unfortunately, the dog had very low levels of a crucial enzyme needed for this process, leading to severe neurological issues. Sadly, the condition is inherited, and the dog’s sibling had already died from the same problem.
People also search for: Shiba Inu motor dysfunction · GM1 gangliosidosis in dogs · dog tremors treatment
Abstract
A six-month-old shiba dog with a one-month history of progressive motor dysfunction showed clinical signs of a cerebellar disorder, including ataxia, dysmetria and intention tremor of the head. Histopathological and ultrastructural studies revealed distended neurons packed with membranous cytoplasmic bodies throughout the central nervous system. The activities of lysosomal acid beta-galactosidase in its leucocytes and liver were less than 2 per cent of the control levels, and the compound accumulated in the brain was identified as GM1 ganglioside. A sibling which died immediately after birth was shown to have a beta-galactosidase deficiency in the brain and visceral organs. A family study revealed that the sire and dam of the probands were heterozygotes with approximately half of the normal level of beta-galactosidase activity, suggesting an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10887996/