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CHF Health Symposium Summary

The 1999 Canine Health Foundation (CHF) Health Symposium was held in St. Louis, October 16th and 17th. It was well attended by representatives of the AKC Parent Breed Clubs. The CHF gets a large amount of support from the AKC and Purina. The following is a summary of the topics discussed. Elaine Ostrander, PhD (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) discussed the importance of the Canine Genome Map and progress to date. A lot of progress has been made recently both in filling in the map to increase its "resolution" and cross referencing the Canine map to the Human and Mouse maps which are more extensive and better understood. The map is based on DNA data collected at Cornell University, a series of "reference pedigrees" from their research. This DNA has been made available to all qualified scientists with a valid interest in it and is housed and distributed by Ralston Purina. Gary Johnson, DVM, PhD (University of Missouri) and his associates are using a copy of the Cornell/Ralston Purina reference pedigrees to place fifty gene-associated markers on the linkage map. So far, they have added twelve and are slightly ahead of schedule.

Gregory Acland, BVSc (Cornell University) discussed the Canine Genome Map and how it can be used to find genes in the dog. He discussed the relationship between two types of map, the linkage map and the radiation hybrid map and their combination into an "integrated" map. Generally, the linkage map is the first tool used to screen a set of DNA samples when looking for a particular gene. Then the hybrid map can be used to map to chromosomes and the human map. The third tool discussed was the canine BAC library which can be used to determine the exact gene once the area where the gene is is narrowed using the linkage map. The gene for narcolepsy (sleeping sickness) was found using the linkage map and then the BAC library - in fact it was found in the canine and human map simultaneously by different researchers.

The CHF has published a new book which attendees were given a copy of. This book, "Future Dog, Breeding for Genetic Soundness" by Patricia Wilkie, provides a lot of the genetic, breeding and linkage map information in an easy to read format. It is being sold for $13.50 to raise funds for further canine health research. The CHF is also working with Citibank to provide a credit card with part of the income going to the CHF. The CHF has arranged it so that when people sign up for the card and are accepted money will go into a fund for the breed that they specify. For instance, every time someone gets a card and specifies Mastiff as their breed, $5 will go into the fund for Mastiff health research.

Kathryn Meurs, DVM, PhD (Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine) discussed progress on research into a heart problem in Boxers. This problem has to do with electrical problems in the heart and irregular beats for which the primary diagnostic tool is a Holter monitor. Evaluation of Boxers in a series of pedigrees and analysis of the pedigrees indicates that this problem is autosomal dominant.

Joseph Alroy, DVM (Tufts University) discussed Inherited Infantile Dilated Cardiomyopathy (IDCM) in the Portuguese Water Dog. Analysis of pedigrees showed inheritance patterns consistent with autosomal recessive. Affected puppies had low plasma taurine concentrations which was reversible in some cases with taurine supplementation.

Larry Glickman, VMD, PhD (Purdue University) discussed research into gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV), bloat, including a study to determine the incidence of bloat in a number of breeds. Increased risk was associated with: increasing age, being fearful or unhappy, large abdomen depth/width ratio, being underweight, and having a sibling or offspring with GDV. Additional risk factors are being analyzed including diet and a paper will be published next year. Of the breeds studied Great Danes had the highest incidence of bloat - 42% can be expected to bloat at least once in their lifetime based on the data collected. Gastroplexy, tacking the stomach, is an affective method of preventing bloat, but is not recommended for breeding animals as this would mask their tendency to bloat.

A panel of speakers addressed reproduction and neonatal mortality. Robert Hutchinson, DVM stressed not overheating puppies, that this was a major cause of problems early on, especially dehydration. Stephanie Todd, DVM discussed procedures at their clinic for reviving puppies after C-section and the significant progress they have made to date. A new feature of their procedure is "core warming" which is used in birds. Core warming involves placing the pups on a grate over bowls of warm water thus warming and humidifying the air and warming the pup internally and externally.

Alice Moon-Fanelli, PhD (Tufts University) discussed canine compulsive behavior disorder research. The main focus being tail chasing in various breeds such as Bull Terriers and German Shepherds. A video was shown of this appalling behavior in which severely affected dogs circle constantly for hours on end and if they do successfully catch their tail they can do significant damage to their sometime requiring amputation. Based on analysis of pedigree data gathered on Bull Terriers the disorder appears to be polygenic.

Jaime F. Modiano, PhD (Center for Cancer Causation and Prevention, AMC Cancer Research Center) discussed the genetics of cancer. The primary focus was on tumor suppressor genes - those that make sure that cell growth does not get out of control. Cancer can be genetic and not be hereditary because it involves often involves gene mutation. In the normal dog there will be two copies of the suppressor gene at each tumor suppressor loci. To develop cancer both normal copies of the gene at the same loci must mutate so the cell growth is no longer suppressed. This is statistically rare if the dog started with two normal copies of the gene. The odds go up a hundred fold if there is only one normal suppressor gene at a given loci. If a type of cancer is hereditary and based on a "bad" tumor suppressor gene statistically it will be passed on to 50% of the offspring.

Malcolm B. Willis, PhD (Department of Agriculture, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England) spoke on "Breeding Better Dogs". His emphasis was on evaluating dogs objectively, breed surveys and how to make good use of the results of gene maps. Strides in improving canine health cannot be made if objective data is ignored in breeding decisions.

Thomas R. Famula, PhD (University of California, Davis) discussed epilepsy in Belgian Tervurens. Analysis of pedigrees has shown that epilepsy in Tervurens is probably polygenic but with a high heritability index (77%). The high heritability is encouraging since it indicates that careful breeding should reduce the incidence of epilepsy in a relatively short time. Further analysis indicates that though polygenic there is a single gene with "large effect" involved in the expression of epilepsy in Tervurens. Dogs that are homozygous for this gene always develop seizures and those that are heterozygous are predisposed to seizures. They are currently screening to locate this gene.

Jerold S. Bell, DVM (Tufts University) gave a talk titled "Developing a Healthy Breeding Program". Emphasis was on setting goals, reducing affected and carrier levels of genetic diseases that "cause death, discomfort, or those that are not treatable", understanding tools such as linkage and gene tests and pedigree analysis, use of vertical breeding to reduce carrier risk (retiring known carriers and breeding their offspring instead), and understanding the importance of knowing the status of siblings and offspring (i.e. analyzing the breadth of the pedigree as well as the depth). In fact, analyzing the breadth of the pedigree is of significantly greater importance than the depth. This was emphasized by several of the other speakers including Malcolm Willis.

George J. Brewer, MD (University of Michigan Medical School) spoke about the Canine von Willebrand story. He discussed three types of vWD that have had gene markers developed for them. Type III (severe) vWD in Scotties and in Shelties, and type I (mild) vWD in Dobermans all due to different genes both autosomal recessive. In the case of Dobermans the mutation cripples the gene but does not entirely knock it out which is why vWD is mild in Dobermans as compared to Scotties and Shelties. In Dobermans the gene is wide spread, 30% are affected, 50% are carriers and only 20% clear. Because of the high frequency in Dobermans breeding strategies will need to include maintaining carriers for a while. With the gene test it is possible to do this without producing any affected. Elissa test results for dogs that had been DNA tested were graphed and it was shown that while Elissa was the best tool available prior to the availability of a DNA test that there were overlaps in the ranges for clear and carrier, and carrier and affected.

The CHF has signed an agreement with OFA to set up the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) which will maintain databases of health information. The information will include cleared and affected dogs based on information provided by the dogs' owners. Initially CHIC will only accept information from a few breeds in order to iron out any problems.

The Canine Health Foundation's web site is at http://www.akcchf.com.