The Genetics team at the Animal Health Trust undertakes research to understand the genetic basis of various inherited diseases that affect dogs, the long term aim being to develop diagnostic tests which can identify dogs as clear, affected or carriers of those diseases.
DNA Diagnostic Tests
Once a DNA test is available for a particular disease any breeder
can have their dog's tested, via a simple cheek swab and on a
completely confidential basis, and use the information to instigate
appropriate breeding programmes that will avoid the production
of affected puppies whilst allowing the most desirable breed characteristics
to be maintained. Contary to popular belief it is not necessary
for carriers, or even affected dogs, to be removed from a breeding
programme. Carriers and affected animals can be safely bred to
dogs that have been tested clear of a disease and whilst the resulting
litters will produce some carriers no affected dogs can be produced.
Carriers will never produce the disease themselves and as long
as any puppies that might be used for breeding are tested themselves,
and are only bred to clear dogs, no more affected puppies need
ever be produced.
Sample Collection
To be able to develop a diagnostic test for any inherited condition
we need DNA samples from affected dogs and their close relatives,
especially parents and siblings of affected dogs. We also need
pedigrees of all dogs we have DNA samples from and also complete
information regarding the dog's disease status (i.e. whether the
dog is affected with the disease or whether it is closely related
to an affected dog). It is important the AHT is kept updated
if the health of a dog changes after DNA has been submitted (if,
for example, the dog develops hereditary cataract during its lifetime,
even if it was clear when the sample was submitted). We keep
the names of all dogs that submit DNA to our research programme
completly confidential and never reveal the results of any dog
to anybody except the dogs owner, and then only if they request
the information.
Hereditary Cataract
The AHT has already identified mutations that cause Hereditary
Cataract (HC) in three breeds of dog. DNA samples from Old English
Sheepdogs (OESs) affected with HC, or from known carriers will
enable
us to determine whether OESs share any of the same mutations.
If they do, they will be able to benefit immediately from the
new cataract test that is due to be launched January 1st, 2006.
If the OES does not share the same mutation they can still benefit
from the AHT's research into cataract. We are hoping to initiate
a large-scale project in the near future to investigate the genetics
basis of hereditary cataract in a number of breeds and we will
be able to include the OES in that project, if sufficient samples
can be collected. We can accept samples from overseas as well
as from within the UK; any sample from an affected or closely
related dog will benefit our research.
For more information about submitting a DNA sample from your dog, or any aspect of the AHT's genetics research please contact:
Dr Cathryn Mellersh
Animal Health Trust
Lanwades Park
Kentford
Newmarket
Suffolk
CB8 7UU
U.K.
Tel: +44 (0) 8700 50 24 60
Fax: +44 (0) 8700 50 24 61
Email: cathryn.mellersh@aht.org.uk