Canine generalized ceroid lipofuscinosis characterized by predominant deposition in pancreatic acinar cells and intestinal smooth muscle cells

Canine generalized ceroid lipofuscinosis (GCL) is a rare disease characterized by the deposition of lipofuscin in systemic organs and tissues. In this case report, we encountered a dog with GCL and performed a detailed histopathological examination. A 7-year-old male beagle was euthanized due to progressive weight loss and loose or bloody stools, without any neurological symptoms. Histopathologically, deposition of lipofuscin was observed in the parenchymal cells of systemic organs, particularly in the pancreatic acini and intestinal smooth muscle, accompanied by interstitial infiltration of macrophages. No neuronal loss was observed in the central nervous system, despite such findings and neurological symptoms being commonly associated with GCL. However, some lipofuscin deposition was evident in systemic organs, so the present case was diagnosed as GCL characterized by predominant deposition in the pancreatic acini and intestinal smooth muscle. This detailed description of the morphological features may contribute to a deeper understanding of lipofuscinosis.