Fucosidosis in a family of American-bred English Springer Spaniels
Smith, M.O.; Wenger, D.A.; Hill, S.L.; Matthews, J.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 209(12): 2088-2090
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 8960193 Document Number: 464569
Fucosidosis was detected in a family of English Springer Spaniels in the United States. To our knowledge, these are the first reported cases of this disease in American-bred dogs. Affected and carrier status of dogs were determined by measuring the activity of the enzyme alpha-L-fucosidase in plasma and in leukocytes. Fucosidosis results in neurologic signs, particularly changes in behavior, in adolescent and adult dogs. Late onset of signs may result in misdiagnosis as a primary behavior problem or acquired neurologic disease. Fucosidosis is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, and carrier dogs are clinically normal. Thus, the abnormal gene can become widespread in a population before homozygous-affected dogs are produced.