Untersuchung zum Vorkommen idiopathischer Epilepsie beim Border Collie

Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) is a common breed-related neurological disorder in contemporary small animal medicine. The number of Border Collies (BCs) with epileptic seizures is increasing while there is a lack of data of IE in this breed. Hypothesis of this study was that IE occurs in BCs and manifests often with severe clinical signs and poor response to medical treatment. IE was diagnosed by recurrent seizures, normal physical, neurological and laboratory examination. MRI and CSF analysis were requested if age at seizure onset was 5 years of age. Dogs that failed to meet all inclusion criteria were only considered if a first- or second-degree relative was afflicted by IE or if seizures had occurred for at least 2 years without interictal neurological abnormalities. Owners fulfilled a detailed questionnaire. Subsequent phenotypic case classification was performed by evaluation of seizure history and treatment data. Pedigrees were sampled and matched for the appearance of common ancestors. Ninety BCs with a reported seizure history were collected retrospectively and prospectively. Forty-nine of them were diagnosed with IE and were included in the present study. Clinical manifestations were dominated by moderate (33 %) and severe clinical courses (49 %) defined by the occurrence of cluster seizures or status epilepticus, respectively. Pharmacoresistance was apparent in 71 % of 24 dogs treated with ≥ 2 antiepileptic drugs. So far, no predictors for the occurrence of pharmacoresistance were identified in the present study. The epilepsy remission rate was 18 %. Dogs in remission showed a significantly higher median age at onset and a significantly lower initial seizure frequency compared to dogs with active epilepsy (p < 0.05). Survival time was significantly reduced in dogs aged < 2 years at seizure onset and in dogs with severe clinical courses (p < 0.05). Family- and pedigree analyses indicated a strong genetic founder effect in the appearance of epilepsy, resembling autosomal recessive inheritance. Yet, complex inheritance could not be excluded. In conclusion, IE occurs in BCs and is frequently associated with severe clinical signs and pharmacoresistance. While further genetic research is required, the results of this study suggest a substantial hereditary (disease) component

Traumatic odontoid process synchondrosis fracture with atlantoaxial instability in a calf: clinical presentation and imaging findings

A 6-week-old female Simmental calf was evaluated for acute non-ambulatory tetraparesis. Physical and laboratory examinations revealed no clinically relevant abnormalities. Neurological findings were consistent with acute, progressive and painful cervical myelopathy. Radiographs displayed a fractured odontoid process (dens axis) and vertebral step misalignment at the fracture site. A traumatic origin was suspected. Advanced diagnostic imaging was considered to allow better planning of potential surgical stabilisation and to exclude any additional lesions of the cervical vertebral column. However, during trailer transportation to the advanced diagnostic imaging and surgery site, the calf deteriorated neurologically and was humanely euthanised. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) were performed immediately post-mortem for scientific reasons. The MRI examination reflected the radiographic findings and confirmed severe spinal cord compression at the fracture site. In addition, a T2W-hyperintense signal change within the paravertebral soft tissue dorsal to the fracture site was indicative of a traumatic event. CT identified the fracture site at the synchondrosis between the odontoid process and the body of the axis, and this finding was confirmed by post-mortem examination. Advanced diagnostic imaging and post-mortem examination did not identify any other cervical lesion. In summary, this calf was diagnosed with a traumatic odontoid process synchondrosis fracture, which has not been reported previously in calves but presents a challenging and well-known fracture type in young children. This case report indicates that the odontoid process synchondrosis is a potential predisposed injury site and that traumatic odontoid process synchondrosis fractures should be considered as a potential differential in calves with acute cervical pain and/or signs of a cervical myelopathy

Generalized myoclonic epilepsy with photosensitivity in juvenile dogs caused by a defective DIRAS family GTPase 1

The clinical and electroencephalographic features of a canine generalized myoclonic epilepsy with photosensitivity and onset in young Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs (6 wk to 18 mo) are described. A fully penetrant recessive 4-bp deletion was identified in the DIRAS family GTPase 1 (DIRAS1) gene with an altered expression pattern of DIRAS1 protein in the affected brain. This neuronal DIRAS1 gene with a proposed role in cholinergic transmission provides not only a candidate for human myoclonic epilepsy but also insights into the disease etiology, while establishing a spontaneous model for future intervention studies and functional characterization

Epilepsie aktuell - Zusammenfassung der Konsens papiers der IVETF zur Definition der Epilepsie, ihrer Klassifikation und der Terminologie sowie zur Genetik der Erkrankung bei Rassehunden

Die International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force (IVETF) hat 2015 sieben Veröffentlichungen mit einem Konsensus mit Richtlinien zur Klassifikation und Empfehlungen zu allen Aspekten der Epilepsie bei Hund und Katze in englischer Sprache publiziert (IVETF, 2015a, b). Im vorliegenden Artikel werden die Inhalte der Konsenspapiere „IVETF consensus report on epilepsy definition, classification and terminology in companion animals” und „IVETF’s current understanding of idiopathic epilepsy of genetic or suspected genetic origin in purebred dogs” in deutscher Sprache zusammengefasst, um die deutsche Tierärzteschaft über aktuelle Erkenntnisse und Neuerungen auf diesen Gebieten zu informieren. Im ersten Teil des Artikels werden die Notwendigkeit eines neuen Klassifikationssystems und einer einheitlichen Sprachregelung bei Epilepsie erläutert und die Vorschläge der IVETF hierfür vorgestellt. Der zweite Teil enthält eine kurze Zusammenfassung des aktuellen Wissensstandes zum verifizierten oder vermuteten genetischen Ursprung der idiopathischen Epilepsie bei verschiedenen Hunderassen

International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force's current understanding of idiopathic epilepsy of genetic or suspected genetic origin in purebred dogs

Canine idiopathic epilepsy is a common neurological disease affecting both purebred and crossbred dogs. Various breed-specific cohort, epidemiological and genetic studies have been conducted to date, which all improved our knowledge and general understanding of canine idiopathic epilepsy, and in particular our knowledge of those breeds studied. However, these studies also frequently revealed differences between the investigated breeds with respect to clinical features, inheritance and prevalence rates. Awareness and observation of breed-specific differences is important for successful management of the dog with epilepsy in everyday clinical practice and furthermore may promote canine epilepsy research. The following manuscript reviews the evidence available for breeds which have been identified as being predisposed to idiopathic epilepsy with a proven or suspected genetic background, and highlights different breed specific clinical features (e.g. age at onset, sex, seizure type), treatment response, prevalence rates and proposed inheritance reported in the literature. In addition, certain breed-specific diseases that may act as potential differentials for idiopathic epilepsy are highlighted