More good news for dogs

Breakthrough discovery leads
to powerful genetic test

The challenge was posed nearly forty years
ago; the trail has been hot for the last two.
Long-standing partnerships have resulted in
advances in diagnosing and understanding
hip dysplasia in dogs, a disease that occurs
when a specific combination of genes
exists and results in hip osteoarthritis and
disability.
Research indicates that, in addition to
Labrador Retrievers, discoveries in the diagnosis
and treatment of hip dysplasia will
assist other breeds including Border Collies,
Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, Rottweilers,
German Shepherds and Newfoundland
dogs, and has the potential to offer insights
into similar diseases in other mammals.
In 2007, with grant support from the Morris
Animal Foundation and Pfizer Incorporated,
Dr. George Lust and colleagues Dr.
Rory Todhunter, Steven Friedenberg and Dr.
Zhiwu Zhang discovered the first panel of
genetic markers that could lead to genetic
testing for the diagnosis of canine hip
dysplasia. With a new sample of dogs, they
plan to verify the accuracy of this panel of
genetic markers for hip conformation that
can predict the breeding value of the dog.
A breakthrough in diagnosis, these genetic
tests are expected to be more accurate
than current procedures, less expensive to
perform, and enable earlier identification of
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both normal dogs and those at risk for hip
dysplasia. Genetic tests may also reduce the
need for progeny testing.
“This has been a long-sought goal,” says
Dr. Lust. “Now, with one DNA sample we
are on the road to telling if a young dog
will develop normally. We will not need to
wait until the dog is old enough to undergo
the current radiographic screening.”
The research team also identified a mutation
in the gene for fibrillin 2 that segregates
in a sample of dysplastic dogs and
nondysplastic dogs. Fibrillin 2 is a gene expressed
in the tissue o f hip joints. This is the
first gene reported to be associated with
canine hip dysplasia. The discovery opens
opportunities for defining the biochemical
basis of the disease.
In other related research, Dr. Lust partnered
with Dr. Bernard G. Steinetz at the New
York University Medical Center to study the
relationship of two milk-borne hormones—
relaxin and estrogen—to the onset of hip
dysplasia. In a controlled study, the investigators
concluded that early anti-hormone
treatments may be able to negate the
effects of the milk-borne hormones as they
relate to induction of canine hip dysplasia.

More here- http://bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/faculty/view.php?id=178