Tollarsjuka hos Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever : en sjukdomsbeskrivning

Sammanfattning: In the dog breed Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (NSDTR) several dogs suffer from joint pain and possibly pain from the muscles. This diffuse disease is called Immune-mediated Non- Erosive Arthritis in Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. The disease is most likely of autoimmune nature where the etiology still is unknown. The musculoskeletal symptoms of stiffness and shifting lameness are intermittently seen. Some dogs also have dermatological changes and some dogs suffer from pain when opening their mouth. The study included 20 diseased and 20 healthy NSDTR. The purpose was to describe immune-mediated arthritis in NSDTR based on symptoms, results of analysis and effect of treatment. Among the diseased dogs 65% had serum positive for antinuclear antibodies by indirect immunofluorescense (IIF) ANA-test. All the healthy dogs were ANA-negative. The fluorescence-pattern of the ANA-test in the NSDTRs were variable and no connection between symptoms, results of ANA-analysis and effect of treatment were found. The high number of ANA-positive dogs suffering from the disease and the high incidence of musculoskeletal symptoms may confirm that immune mediated arthritis in NSDTR possibly could be an SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)-related disease. Hematology, biochemistry and urine analysis were generally normal in both the diseased and the healthy dogs. Radiological examination, analysis of synovia and post-mortem examination indicates that immune-mediated non-erosive arthritis in NSDTR is an immune-mediated non-erosive arthritis. The dogs have been treated with NSAID and/or prednisolone. Generally the effect of NSAID was insufficient in relieving the dogs symptoms. Cortisone gave a much better initial effect though it was difficult to evaluate the effects of cortisone in the long term. In the future it would be interesting to examine joints and synovia from a greater number of dogs suffering from the disease. Also analysis of cytokines and genetic investigations are exiting tools in order to get further information about immune-mediated non-erosive arthritis in NSDTR.