Vizsla Myositis/Polymyositis

We are investigating a new breed specific illness in the Hungarian Vizsla.

Its principal symptoms are problems swallowing both food and water, excessive foamy drooling, and muscle wasting (especially around the head)

Visit a descriptive presentation on the website of the Comparative Neuromuscular Laboratory in San Diego

Visit the website of RCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology - Clare Rusbridge -(BVMS, PhD, DipECVN, MRCVS) for disease information and instruction on DNA sample collection.

Scroll right down for a great deal more information on polymyositis in affected UK vizslas and there is also some guidance to help vets reach a correct diagnosis by distinguishing the condition from other myopathies.

Please also look at the links in the adjoining sidebar for some video clips and other useful information.

The following images illustrate typical muscle wasting in the temporal and masseter areas. (Click on each for a higher quality picture)



^ Mika


^ Spice


^ Amber


^ Ollie


^Radio


^Fern


^ Bodri

Recently here in the UK there has been a very worrying number of young Hungarian Vizslas diagnosed with myositis (muscle inflammation) or polymyositis. Typical onset is usually in adolescence or maybe up to about two years of age (worryingly though some recent cases have been considerably later) and frequently there is an initial acute episode of retching, gagging, choking, dysphagia and hypersalivation. Sometimes the onset is more insidious with inefficient and messy eating and drinking being noted. Often there is an initial diagnosis of megaoesophagus. Fatigue, significantly elevated CK levels, an absence of a gag reflex, voice change, aspiration pneumonia and lameness/stiffness of gait are other common findings. Muscle wasting in the temporal and masseter areas usually follows.

We think the illness is immune mediated and on the basis of several very close family relationships (siblings for example) we believe it to be genetic.

Where cases have been fully investigated, infectious causes of muscle inflammation (such as neosporosis or toxoplasmosis) are invariably ruled out. So too are myaesthenia gravis and masticatory muscle myositis.

We become increasingly interested in other immune mediated or "auto-immune " diseases in the vizsla. A new investigation is here. Many of our case study vizslas have had IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) or other GI (Gastro-Intestinal) problems. Skin problems and allergies too. It becomes clear that many immune-mediated illnesses can be concommitant (ie happening together) with polymyositis.

With prompt diagnosis and treatment polymyositis can usually be well controlled with combined immune suppressive protocols - typically Prednisone + Imuran (azathioprine) + gastroprotectants - these medications to be only very gradually tapered. Recently some specialists have also introduced Cyclosporine/Atopica (another immune suppressant) Careful monitoring of these regimes is vital.

Here is an important document prepared by G. Diane Shelton DVM, PhD, DACVIM to help veterinarians correctly distinguish and diagnose muscle disease in the vizsla.

A veterinary research project is now under way and at the BSAVA Congress 2008 there was a case series presentation "Myositis and Pharyngeal Dysphagia in Hungarian Vizslas" It is intended to publish a research paper in due course. Increasingly we hear of cases in the US and Canada also. There too a "breed specific polymyositis" is being acknowledged. Here is an abstract from the 2009 ACVIM Conference (American College Veterinary Internal Medicine)

Below are links to some video clips that illustrate typical dysphagia. The food is not "vomited" Nor is it regurgitated from the oesophagus. Its problem is in leaving the mouth. It appears evident that the swallowing problem is at the level of the pharynx. We wonder too whether these vizslas' tongues are functioning properly. Sometimes normal lapping and licking seem not to be evident.

View "Spice's" eating difficulties. Increasingly slimy food is returned to the bowl many times before successful swallowing can finally be achieved.

View "Spice's" drinking problems.Despite great effort the level of the water in the drinking bowl does not go down and eventually the bowl is full of slobber and food particles.

View how similar are "Amber's" efforts. This girl is luckier than many. She still has reasonably efficient tongue function and since immune suppressive treatment her swallowing too has improved.

In cases where the vizsla finds it difficult to eat from a bowl because of impaired tongue function then spoon-feeding can be helpful. View the technique.

We would be very pleased indeed to hear from anybody who knows of a vizsla with the type of illness that we are describing. It is vital for the future wellbeing of this lovely breed that everybody with any information contacts us so that the widest possible picture can be discerned.
If you can help then please contact Di Addicott

diane@murrayfield.wanadoo.co.uk

I am also delighted to speak on the telephone - 01576 202258

Please be assured that the sole purpose of the research is to determine the aetiology of this poorly defined illness and hopefully if possible to minimise its incidence. All information is treated with total confidence and we will ask you for permission to pass clinical details to our researching vets.

We will be posting updates as soon as we are able to do so.