NEUROMUSCULAR CASE OF THE MONTH - NOVEMBER 2002

Hereditary Myopathy of Devon Rex Cats – Disease Update
Illustrations for this update were provided by Dr. Richard Malik
Department of Pathology
University of Sydney
New South Wales 2006, Australia

A congenital muscle disease affecting a family of Devon rex cats was initially described in 1993 by Malik et al. Physical abnormalities included passive ventroflexion of the head and neck, dorsal protrusion of the scapulae, megaesophagus, and generalized appendicular weakness and fatigability (Figs. 1 and 2). Clinical signs became evident at 3-23 weeks of age and were slowly progressive or static. Serum creatine kinase concentrations were not elevated. Histopathological evaluation of muscle biopsy specimens were variable depending on the age of the animal at the time of collection. Dystrophic changes were evident in biopsies collected from older, more severely affected cats. Of the 6 cats originally described, 4 died suddenly of laryngospasm following obstruction of the larynx or pharynx with food.

Figure 1. Figure 2.

Recently, a 5 month old female Devon Rex cat from the USA was brought to our attention. The clinical presentation was similar to that described in the Australian family of cats. Pathological changes within a muscle biopsy specimen were dystrophic in nature. This is to alert clinicians, breeders, and animal owners of the likely presence of this myopathy in Devon Rex cats in this country. Clinicians please contact Dr. Diane Shelton (musclelab@ucsd.edu) if you are evaluating any affected animals.

Malik R, Mepstead K, Yang F, Harper C (1993) Hereditary myopathy of Devon rex cats. J Small Anim Pract 34; 539-546.

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