Pathological study of cerebellar abiotrophy in American Staffordshire terrier: first report in Uruguay

Abstract

Cerebellar abiotrophy was observed in a female American Staffordshire terrier aged 6 years. The bitch showed tremors, weakness, ataxia as main clinical signs at the time of visit the Veterinary Hospital (FVET-UdelaR), and these signs were progressed slowly for 6 months. The dog was euthanatized due to owners offer, considering no possibility of recovery, and was examined pathologically. Grossly, the cerebellum was small, and the folia were thin, with expanded interfoliar sulci. Histologically, the three layers of the cerebellar cortex showed abnormal structure, characterized by decrease in number of cells in the granular layer, loss of Purkinje cells and thinning of molecular layer. From these pathological findings, this case was diagnosed as canine cerebellar abiotrophy. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of this disease in Uruguay.