Introduction
- Group of genetic diseases rarely seen in general practice, associated with failure of a metabolic pathway; includes mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS), mucolipidosis (ML), gangliosidosis (GM), sphingomyelinosis, alpha-mannosidosis, ceroid lipofuscinosis, globoid leukodystrophy.
- Cause : specific enzyme deficiency due to genetic defect, may occur as breed-specific inherited disease.
- Signs : chronic, progressive neurological signs - ataxia, behavioral change, dysphonia; young adults, but ceroid lipofuscinosis can occur in older individuals.
- Diagnosis : urinalysis, radiography, enzymology, biopsy, genetic testing.
- Treatment : none.
- Prognosis : poor.
Diagnosis
Clinical signs
- Cerebellar-like signs (GM, sphingomyelinosis, mannosidosis).
- Dwarfism (MPS).
- Facial deformity, eg flat face, small ears, skin thickening (MPS).
- Neuropathic syndrome (sphingomyelinosis/Niemann-Pick disease Type A).
- Corneal opacity (GM, MPS).
- Hypermetria (sphingomyelinosis).
- Retinal atrophy (GM).
- Hepatosplenomegaly (GM).
- Heart murmur
(GM, mannosidosis).
- Thoracolumbar spinal cord dysfunction (MPS VI).
Sequelae
Prognosis
- Poor.
- Some individuals may live 3-4 years with some of the diseases.
Sources
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references fromPubMed.
- Skelly B J & Franklin R J M (2002)Recognition and diagnosis of lysosomal storage diseases in the cat and dog.J Vet Intern Med16(2), 133-141.
- He X, Li C M, Simonaro C Met al(1999)Identification and characterization of the molecular lesion causing mucopolysaccharidosis type I in cats.Mol Genet Metab67, 106-112.
- Cuddonet al(1989)Polyneuropathy in feline Niemann Pick disease.Brain112, 1429-1443.
- Cummingset al(1988)The clinical and pathologic heterogeneity of feline alpha-mannosidosis.J Vet Intern Med2, 163-170.
- Hubler M, Haskins M E, Arnold S, Kaser-Hotz Bet al(1996)Mucopolysaccharidosis II in a DSH.JSAP37, 435-441.
- Jezyk P F, Haskins M E, Newmann L R (1986)Alpha mannosidosis in a Persian cat.JAVMA189, 1483-1485.
- Neuwelt E A, Johnson W G, Blank N K, Pagel M A Maslen-McClure C, McClure M J, Wo P M (1985)Characterisation of a new model of GM2 gangliosidosis in Korat cats.J Clin Invest76, 482-490.
- Barnes et al (1981)Hepatic beta galactosidase and feline GM1 gangliosidosis.Neuropath Applied Neurobiol7, 463-76.
Other sources of information
- Summers, Cummings & de Lahunta. In:Veterinary Neuropathology.Mosby (Excellent review of storage diseases).



