Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Chronic respiratory disease and ciliary defects in 15 dogs studied
By Miranda, Ileana C et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2017·1 Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Histologic and Ultrastructural Findings in Dogs With Chronic Respiratory Disease Suspected of Ciliary Dyskinesia.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old mixed-breed dog was brought in for chronic breathing problems and ear infections. After examining the dog's respiratory system under a microscope, the vet found that the dog had primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a condition where tiny hair-like structures in the airways don’t work properly. This dog had severe changes in the structure of these cilia, which contributed to its ongoing health issues. Unfortunately, the dog had multiple complications, including pneumonia and hydrocephalus, and the diagnosis helped guide treatment.
People also search for: dog chronic cough treatment · dog breathing problems ciliary dyskinesia · dog ear infection causes
Abstract
Mucociliary clearance is a main defense mechanism of the respiratory tract, which can be inherently impaired in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) or reversibly altered in secondary ciliary dyskinesia (SCD). Limited diagnostic test availability likely leads to misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of PCD in animals. This study evaluated the light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) changes in the respiratory mucosa of 15 dogs with chronic respiratory disease suspected of PCD. Necropsy was performed in 1 case and 2 dogs were used as negative controls. PCD was confirmed in 1 dog, which presented with chronic otitis, bronchopneumonia, hydrocephalus and ultrastructural abnormalities in 84% of the assessed cilia, including absence of dynein arms and microtubular changes. The 14 other cases showed only nonspecific alterations, such as ciliary disorientation, compound cilia, ciliary edema, and axoneme bubbles in a minority of the evaluated cilia and were classified as SCD. Ciliary ultrastructural analysis can confirm a diagnosis of PCD if specific abnormalities exist. TEM remains an important investigational tool in veterinary medicine, as no other specific test for PCD in dogs has been standardized yet.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28494707/