A big thank you
to those owners who have sent Buccal Swabs to the
Helsinki Epilepsy Research Project:
Another step forward has been taken in the
study of canine epilepsy.
In June 2015 Hannes Lohi’s team at Helsinki University published a
research paper in which the team concluded that their genetic data
implicated ADAM23
as a common risk gene for idiopathic epilepsy in four unrelated dog breeds and that
further replication studies in additional breeds would be ongoing.
http://bmcgenomics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12864-015-1651-9
The results
of the next phase of their research have recently been published in which they
studied the association of the ADAM23
gene with idiopathic or primarily genetic epilepsy in eight dog breeds. This research supports their first conclusion
and the results support the role of ADAM23 in several dog
breeds as a common risk gene for epilepsy with low penetrance but they believe
other, as yet unknown, factors may contribute to the disease risk.
The haplotype
frequencies in Pyrenean Shepherds, Miniature Pinschers and Irish Setters showed
a similar trend as in the other studied breeds, although the associations were
not statistically significant
During
the last four years around 40 DNA samples from UK Irish Setters which have been
diagnosed with epilepsy have been sent to Professor Hannes Lohi’s Canine
Genetics research group at the University of Helsinki. Samples from some 80
close family members of these dogs and some 40 older dogs which have not had
seizures have also been sent
We
would like to thank those owners who have submitted DNA samples as Irish
Setters were one of the 8 breeds studied with 22 cases and 46 controls and we
know that DNA samples from UK were used.
For
the full abstract go to:
http://bmcgenet.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12863-017-0478-6
If you would like to send DNA samples see our original page.
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Give A Dog A Genome
Give a Dog A Genome is a recent initiative launched by the Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the AHT to create the UK's largest canine genome bank to help generations of dogs. This genome bank will improve dog health by radically increasing understanding of the canine genome. The aim is to sequence the entire genomes (all 2.4 billion letters of DNA) of 50 different dog breeds by the end of 2016. The AHT has been appealing to dog breed communities to donate £1000 towards this project and is matching each donation with funding provided by The Kennel Club Charitable Trust. In return, the breed will represent one of the 50 genomes sequenced and will help to make a significant contribution to the future of canine genetics research.
We are delighted that The Irish Red Setter Charitable Trust has funded this for our breed and have confirmation that we have been included in the 50 breeds. Sequencing the Irish Setter genome will aid future research into inherited disease. We look forward to hearing how the research progresses.
As at October 2017 suitable DNA has now been identified and sent to a commercial lab for sequencing.
Further information can be found on the AHT website: www.aht.org.uk/gdg
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Joint Irish Setter Breed Clubs Health Committee
We have recently been informed of an Irish Setter in mainland Europe which has been confirmed as being PRA RCD-1 affected. Of course, since 2011 all Irish Setters registered in UK must be either tested clear or hereditarily clear, but this is not the case in other countries.
Our advice is that if you are importing an Irish Setter (or semen) into the UK, that you check its RCD 1 status.
Professor EJ Hall
Chairman, Joint Irish Setter Breed Clubs Health Committee
September 2014
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Hannes Lohi and his team at Helsinki University are
carrying out research into epilepsy in Irish Setters.
RESEARCH – DNA SAMPLES NEEDED!
See our article to find out if you can help.
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The AHT are investigating mystery New Forest Dog Deaths and are appealing to owners who walk in the Fordingbridge area of The New Forest
http://www.aht.org.uk/cms-display/april13enews.html#akf
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Please look at our article on Saying Goodbye.
Maybe you can help the breed.
Please look at the article on megaoesophagus and see if you can help.