Vuosi 2008

Up till now the diagnosis of the ataxia of American Staffordshire terriers was based on the clinical signs and the magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. The clinical signs characteristic for the disease are: generalised ataxia (loss of coordination), falling (mainly when running or turning), head tremor, balance problems and tremor. The magnetic resonance imaging of the brain usually showed smaller cerebellum, presence of bigger cerebrospinal fluid space around the cerebellum and between the cerebellar folia and in some cases wider fourth lateral ventricle. The midsagital T2 and T1 MRI images of the brain of the American Staffordshire terrier affected by disease.

Below are the transversal images of the same dog. Note the increase of the cerebrospinal fluid space on the last image in the row (Flair). 

Midsagital T2, transversal pre and post contrast as well as transversal T2 images of another dog examined in Aisti and confirmed by the DNA test to be affected by the mutation. 

The discovery of the gene will help in the future to prevent the occurence of disease in American Stafforshire terrier population. Disease has been diagnosed in several dogs in Finland before the gene test was available based on the clinical data. The diagnosis although has not been always starightforward even with the MRI examination. Note the series of images below showing affected dog, but the MRI examination has revealed normal appearance of cerebellum. It is caused by the fact that the degeneration of the cerebellar cells is a slow process and at the beginning of disease dog might show clinical signs but the cerebellum might have still normal size on MRI examination. Just when disease progress further the cerebellum shrinks and the changes will be visible.

The test is available in the Antagene laboratory in France. For more information please visit:

http://www.antagene.com