by Pam Barbe

1. Cancer
2. Epilepsy
3. Hip Dysplasia
4. Thyroid Disease
5. Allergies
6. Bloat
7. Heart Disease
8. Autoimmune Disease
9. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
10. Cataracts

Help the Samoyed Breed!  Choose to participate in one of the following confidential Reseach Projects!!

Note, all of the following information is now up on the new SCARF website in the Research section.  I will gradually be deleting this section since the SCARF website will contain the most updated information.

The thyroid gland secretes hormones which are very important for development, growth, reproduction and metabolism. Sometimes the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone and hypothyroidism occurs. Hypothyroidism is very common in dogs and many are treated with thyroid hormone supplementation. Hypothyroidism is generally diagnosed by the measuring the concentration of thyroid hormones in serum. This concentration is then compared to a reference interval derived from measurements from large groups of normal dogs. Generally this works very well, however, in some breeds, the true reference range is different than the range determined when dogs of various breeds (or mixed-breeds) are analyzed. Without breed-specific intervals, inappropriate use of general values may result in healthy dogs being misclassified as hypothyroid. These animals may be incorrectly placed on thyroid supplementation, and unnecessarily removed from breeding programs. Furthermore, the incidence of hypothyroidism in the breed will be overestimated. We wish to establish breed-specific normal thyroid reference intervals to improve the diagnosis of true hypothyroidism in purebred dogs.

Current status of this study: Active and enrolling

Principal Investigators: Rebecca Davies, PhD and Sheila Torres, DVM, MS, PhD DACV

7/28/05 AKCCHF grant #305: Histocompatibility Alleles Conferring Susceptibility to Canine diabetes, Immune-Mediated thyroiditis and Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia 

Autoimmune diseases cause significant amounts of mortality and debilitating disease in dogs. In humans many autoimmune diseases occur only in individuals expressing one of the few predisposing histocompatibility genes. For example, all cases of type I diabetes in humans are associated with only a few of the many allelic forms of class II histocompatibility genes. Consequently, if the frequencies of these few alleles were reduced by half, the incidence of diabetes would be reduced by half. Here we propose to characterize histocompatibility susceptibility alleles for three major, heritable canine autoimmune diseases - diabetes, immune-mediated thyroiditis and immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. If any of these three debilitating (or lethal) autoimmune diseases have a restricted number of susceptibility alleles it will allow: (1) development of diagnostic tests for identifying individuals at risk for prophylactic therapy and research and (2) reducing the incidence of the disease by reducing the breeding of individuals carrying the predisposing histocompatibility alleles. For each of the three autoimmune diseases, we propose to collect DNA samples from approximately 100 purebred dogs diagnosed with the disease. Histocompatibility genes will be cloned and sequenced for each dog for a total of approximately 1100 sequences. Histocompatibility alleles will be tested for significant associations with each of the autoimmune diseases.

Current status of this study: Active and enrolling

Principal Investigator: Dr. Wayne Potts, University of Utah

If your animal is a potential candidate (carefully read the participation criteria), please print out a copy of the consent form , have it filled out by your veterinarian and returned to:

Wayne Potts Canine Health Study

Department of Biology University of Utah

257 South 1400 East

Salt Lake City, Utah 84112

The investigator will review your consent form, and if your dog is deemed qualified for participation in this study, you will be sent a home DNA sample collection kit.  Click here for more information about DNA sample collection. 

7/28/05 - Mammary Cancer Research to benefit dogs and humans!  
AKCCHF grant #0366 --This is an extension of the previous study (#2222) on the connection between elevated levels of the COX-2 enzyme and the development of mammary tumors. 

Abstract: "Tumors originating from the mammary gland represent the most frequent form of cancer in female dogs.  However, very little information is known of the mechanisms involved in the development of this cancer.  In dogs, the growth of mammary gland tumors is dependent on the age of the animal and on its hormones.  Malignant mammary tumors can recur following surgical excision or can send cancerous cells to distant organs.  Cyclooxygenase-2, an enzyme that is essential in the production of prostaglandins, has recently been implicated in various forms of cancer in humans, including breast cancer.  However, the possible implication of this enzyme in canine mammary cancer has never been addressed.  The objective of this proposal is to study the mechanisms involved in the synthesis of prostaglandins in mammary tumors in the dog.  We first plan to study the expression of the enzyme COX-2 in benign and malignant mammary tumors in dogs.  We then want to characterize the regulation of the enzyme COX-2 in cultures of cells derived from canine mammary tumors.  It is expected that a better comprehension of the mechanisms involved in COX-2 expression in canine mammary cancer will help design new strategies for cancer therapy and prevention in the canine species."

Print out a copy of a letter to take to your veterinarian explaining how to submit the sample.

To help this research, you can send a sample of the mammary tumor for Dr. Doré to analyze for the presence of COX-2. The tumor (or a portion of it) should be in a formalin solution (your veterinarian has the formalin solution at his/her clinic).

Please send the sample to:
Dr. Monique Doré
Département de pathologie et microbiologie
Faculté de médecine vétérinaire
Université de Montréal
3200 Sicotte
St-Hyacinthe, Québec
Canada J2S 7C6
monique.dore@umontreal.ca

"I thank you very much for your precious help with this research."
Monique Doré, DVM, MSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVP

The ultimate goal is to develop a direct DNA test for the presence of the genes responsible for causing Juvenile Cataracts, and those which cause Canine Hip Dysplasia. These tests, used as tools in making breeding decisions, will help clear Juvenile Cataracts and Hip Dysplasia from the breeder's lines.

For either research project, we are looking for DNA samples from small family groups of Samoyeds in which two or more siblings or half-siblings have been diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia or with Early Onset (or Juvenile Cataracts).

We need to collect DNA samples from the affected dogs and a few of their unaffected close relatives such as parents and siblings. We prefer to have DNA samples from both parents, but will accept a offspring with only one parent.

We need at least twelve families of Samoyeds for them to seriously start working on a breed. It's simply too expensive to start, and then not get enough DNA samples in and them have to start again with another breed. We only have about four or five Samoyed families in so far.

DNA samples are collected by means of oral cheek swabs, which are simply swiped in the dog's mouth. To participate, contact VetGen and request our cheek swabs. Participants are sent a set of six oral cheek swabs per dog, instructions for swabbing, a data information sheet, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope for their return.

Participation in VetGen's research is free and completely confidential.

Contact VetGen Research Coordinator,  Cheryl Hogue, at 1-800-483-8436 or healthydog@vetgen.com for more information or visit the VetGen website.

Inherited Cataracts - Optigen
This is an expansion of a current research project aimed at identifying the gene(s) and mutation(s) responsible for these cataracts. Samples are needed from Samoyeds, Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes with bilateral posterior cortical cataracts that developed between 1 and 3 years of age.
 

For each dog, please send to OptiGen:

• 5-10 ml of unclotted blood

• CERF exam form that has a drawing of the cataract

• 4-6 generation pedigree

OptiGen, LLC
Cornell Business & Technology Park
767 Warren Road, Suite 300
Ithaca, NY 14850
 

www.optigen.com
genetest@optigen.com
607.257.0301 phone
607.257.0353 fax

"Participation by the owners of affected dogs and their relatives is essential to the success of this project. Researchers need DNA samples from dogs who have been diagnosed with glaucoma or lens luxation, and immediate relatives (all available siblings, parents, grandparents, and offspring if the affected dog has been bred). Clinically normal dogs in these families are as important to sample as the affected dogs. Complete or nearly complete families are critical to the success of this research. Participation in the project is confidential -- the names of individual owners or dogs will not be revealed."

Objectives: "Evaluate the genotype of selected families to search for linkage between DNA markers and diagnosed lens luxation or glaucoma, then use this information to identify the causative mutation or mutations. 

"Early identification of these dogs would enable dog owners and their veterinarians to instigate measures to preserve their dogs' sight and to adjust breeding practices to minimize or eradicate the disease in their breeds."

Information about how to collect and submit blood samples can be found on the Canine Genetic Diseases.net.   Click on "Glaucoma and Lens Luxation" for project info, and the instructions and forms (in "Sample Submission") to participate.   NOTE: if you are outside the United States, you can still submit samples. The forms on the website include special information on how to get samples through customs.

Thanks to Kerry Meydam for bringing this study to our attention.   For further information, the project coordinator is Liz Hansen (HansenL@missouri.edu) or click here for an e-mail from Liz re: Samoyed participation in this study.

"With the help of samples donated by interested owners and breeders, we are building a comprehensive DNA database for understanding dog genetics. Our goal is to collect samples from at least fifty dogs unrelated in the first generation from each breed. These samples will then be tested against the previously mentioned screening panels. This information will be used to establish a genetic profile for each breed at each genetic marker.

If you would like to donate samples from your dog(s) to this project please click HERE . Sample collection is simple and involves a sterile non-invasive technique. Since our project is to determine whole breed profiles and no individual dog results will be available, the kits and testing are free. There is no charge to the dog owner."

From the Canine Epilepsy Project webpage on the Canine Epilepsy Network:

"The objectives of our investigations into hereditary canine epilepsy are:

• Recruit samples from a large number of affected individuals and their immediate family members (siblings, parents, and grandparents), from many breeds of dogs.

• Evaluate the genotype of selected families to search for linkage between DNA markers and clinical epilepsy, then use this information to identify the causative mutation or mutations.
• Devise a DNA marker test that detects and distinguishes normal and mutant (epilepsy-causing) alleles, and make this test available to dog breeders so that they can produce epilepsy-free dogs.

We are trying to determine whether a nervous system disorder that was described 14 years ago in the east coast has been seen in other Samoyeds. Affected pups developed a severe tremor at 10-12 days of age involving the head, body, and limbs that was so severe that the pups were unable to walk. While not recorded, it is likely that the affected pups were males, although it is possible that females also may have had a milder tremor.

We are interested in finding out whether other dogs with this disease have been seen and whether any are known of at present. As it is likely that the disease is X-linked, the female is the carrier and will produce affected male pups with any sire.  We would like to follow up on the earlier report 

 (Cummings et al, Acta Neuropathologica, 1986:71;267-277) and determine the molecular basis of the disease.  If this can be achieved, it may be possible to develop a blood test that could be used to identify carriers and help in future breeding plans.

Should you have any information, please contact either Dr. Ian Duncan at the Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Drive West, Madison, WI 53706. Dr. Duncan may also be reached by email at duncani@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu, phone (608-265-1129), or fax (608-265-8008).

Permission given to cross-post to other lists, print in Club newsletters, or otherwise disseminate to Samoyed fanciers.

Last updated: Saturday, April 19, 2008
© 1999 - 2008 Mirage Samoyeds. All rights reserved.