Imerslund-Grasbeck syndrome in a cross-breed dog

J Small Anim Pract. 2021 Aug;62(8):709-711. doi: 10.1111/jsap.13239. Epub 2020 Oct 6.

Abstract

Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome is an autosomal recessive disease reported only in certain pure-breed dogs. An 18-month-old, male neutered beagle cross-breed was presented for evaluation of severe lethargy, progressive weakness and anorexia. Main clinicopathological findings included low body condition score (2.5/9), severe muscle atrophy, several neurological abnormalities, mild normochromic, normocytic, non-regenerative anaemia, severe hypocobalaminemia and mild proteinuria. Extensive diagnostic tests ruled out most of differential diagnoses for the aforementioned clinicopathological abnormalities and genetic evaluation showed that the dog was heterozygous for two previously described mutations affecting the CUBN gene, the beagle and the border collie variants. The dog showed an excellent clinical response to oral cobalamin supplementation with no relapse after 4 months. In conclusion, this case creates awareness that Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome should be considered even in mixed-breed dogs with compatible clinical signs and that two different pathogenic CUBN mutations in compound heterozygosity can lead to a typical Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome phenotype.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anemia, Megaloblastic* / diagnosis
  • Anemia, Megaloblastic* / drug therapy
  • Anemia, Megaloblastic* / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Dog Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Dog Diseases* / drug therapy
  • Dogs
  • Malabsorption Syndromes* / diagnosis
  • Malabsorption Syndromes* / genetics
  • Malabsorption Syndromes* / veterinary
  • Male
  • Proteinuria / veterinary
  • Vitamin B 12 / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency* / diagnosis
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency* / drug therapy
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency* / veterinary

Substances

  • Vitamin B 12

Supplementary concepts

  • Imerslund-Grasbeck syndrome