AKC Canine Health Foundation - Participation Needed

Participation Needed
Review request from researchers on samples needed to conduct specific research.

Research Area: Syringomyelia
Breed: Brussels Griffon
Date Request Posted: May 12, 2009

Syringomyelia (SM) has emerged as a common spinal cord abnormality in small breed dogs. Syringomyelia, characterized by the development of excess fluid in the spinal cord, is associated with a syndrome of severe pain and weakness. Certain breeds are predisposed to SM, most notably the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS). SM is associated with a condition referred to as a Chiari-like malformation (CM), which is a developmental abnormality of the skull. As a result of the skull malformation, part of the cerebellum and the brainstem may be compressed leading to an alteration in the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and mild inflammation in the central nervous system. It is hypothesized that these abnormalities contribute to the development of SM.

Recently, SM has been diagnosed in Brussels Griffon (Griffon Bruxellois) dogs in North America, Europe and Australia. Drs. Marc Kent and Simon Platt of the University of Georgia are in the process of studying SM in the Brussels Griffon. Their hypothesis is that a subpopulation of the Brussels Griffon (BG) dog breed is affected by SM. The goals of their research are to identify the prevalence of SM in BG; to delineate clinical signs and spinal fluid abnormalities in BG with SM; and to utilize MRI to define structural abnormalities associated with SM in the BG breed.

Drs. Kent and Platt need your help to increase the number of Brussels Griffons participating in this study. To learn more about how this project, please visit the website of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the University of Georgia, www.vet.uga.edu/hospital/smallanimal/neurology/syringomyelia.php. At this site, owners can find valuable information regarding the disease process involved in SM, the importance of the study, and enrollment criteria. Applications can be downloaded from the website. Application or questions regarding the study can be addressed to abgstudy@uga.edu.

Research Area: Lymphosarcoma Cardiac Study
Breed: Various
Date Request Posted: January 29, 2009

Specific dogs still needed as "normal" matches for an ongoing Lymphosarcoma Cardiac Study. The North Carolina State Animal Cancer Program is seeking the following “normal” controls as matches for an this study. Each dog will receive a free EKG, Echocardiogram and serum Troponin level at weeks one and week six of the study. The remaining dogs are ones we still need to match for this study.

Breed                                                  Sex     Age (yrs)        Wt (lbs)
Pekingese (or toy group)                     MC       10-12               18-20
Shiba Inu                                             FS        7-9                   25-30
American Staffordshire                                     FS        6-8                   50-55
West Highland WT (or terrier group) MC       8-10                 22-25
Large Terrier Mix (Airedale type)         FS        8-10                 57-62
Bulldog                                                 MC       6-8                   60-65
Great Dane                                          MC       5-7                   150-155

If you have a dog that matches any of the above descriptions, or for more information regarding this trial, please contact the study coordinator Julie Osborne at julie_osborne@ncsu.edu or call 919-513-6812.

You may also add your pet to our “Normal Dog” Database for possible future study needs:

http://ceres.cals.ncsu.edu/surveybuilder/Form.cfm?testID=5216

Thanks for your support!

Research Area: Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease
Breeds: All
Date Request Posted: May 8, 2008

Chronic degenerative valve disease is the most common heart disease that affects dogs. To date, the cause of this disease has remained elusive. It is known that the collagen that provides much of the support in the valve is damaged in diseased valves. One popular theory is the existence of an imbalance between the proteins that break down collagen and those that prevent collagen breakdown. The proposed study will determine the difference in the balance between these proteins in normal cultured valve cells and valve cells cultured from diseased leaflets. Differences that exist between normal and diseased valve cells will help target future research projects and aid in determining the cause of this prevalent disease process.

We are requesting mitral valve tissue from dogs that have died or have been euthanized that have significant degenerative mitral valve disease. This valve tissue will be used to culture cells from the tissue in order for us to study this disease from a cell culture perspective. For inclusion in the study, dogs need to have a diagnosis of degenerative mitral valve disease from their veterinarian (if echocardiography findings are available, those should be provided as well) and the owner needs to be willing to let their referring veterinarian remove the mitral valve from the dog after it dies or is euthanized. The tissue should be removed within 2 hours of death or euthanasia.

At this point we are not studying a specific breed so any dog diagnosed with mitral valve disease is qualified to enter the study.

We are requesting the anterior mitral valve leaflet (the larger leaflet most associated with the septum and aorta) but if there is any confusion the entire mitral valve can be shipped and we can collect the anterior mitral valve leaflet once it arrives here. The sample should be shipped in phosphate buffered saline. If needed, we can ship tubes of phosphate buffered saline for sample collection. The sample should be shipped on ice overnight to the address below. Please contact Dr. Heaney if you need additional information.

Allison M. Heaney, DVM
Marsha Robertson, Research Technician
Washington State University
100 Dairy Road
Pullman, WA 99164 - 1120
Tel: 509-335-0711
Fax: 509-335-0880

Research Area: Canine Diabetes Mellitus
Breeds: Samoyed and Australian Terrier
Date Request Posted: January 14, 2008

Canine diabetes mellitus is a common disorder of middle to older age dogs and Samoyed and Australian Terrier dogs are at increased risk for this disease. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, funded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation, the Australian Terrier Club of America, the Samoyed Club of America Education and Research Foundation, and the San Joaquin Kennel Club are working to determine if there are differences in the genetics of diabetic and control dogs.
The purpose of the study is to search for genes associated with increased risk for diabetes in Australian Terrier and Samoyed dogs. Early genetic identification of carriers and dogs that are likely to develop diabetes will enable breeders to determine which dogs are not fit for breeding with one another, years before clinical signs of diabetes develop. The ability to predict the disease in young, unaffected, breeding dogs may help prevent diabetes mellitus in Samoyeds and Australian Terriers. It may also protect potential owners of diabetic dogs from long term care for an animal with an incurable disease.

Dr. Rebecka Hess is conducting the study and needs the help of Samoyed and Australian Terrier owners. The study requires drawing 15 ml of blood (3 tablespoons) from your dog. This can usually be arranged with your local veterinarian. Please contact Dr. Hess with your name, phone number, and e-mail address and provide her with the name of your veterinarian and with their phone number. She will contact you and your veterinarian and arrange for FedEx pickup of the blood sample at a time convenient for you and your local veterinarian. There will be no expense involved for the owner.

Blood samples are being collected from any Samoyed and Australian Terrier diabetic dog and also from any Samoyed or Australian Terrier dog that is 7 years of age or older that does not have diabetes.

Contact information for coordinating the samples:
Rebecka S. Hess, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine
Phone: (215) 898-9427
E-mail: rhess@vet.upenn.edu

Research Area: Vaccine-Induced Allergic Reactions
Breeds: Dachshund, Pug Dog, Chihuahua, Boston Terrier, and Miniature Pinscher
Date Request Posted: January 8, 2008

Allergic reactions continue to be the most common adverse event associated with vaccination in dogs. Recent research has demonstrated that small dogs in general, and several specific breeds, are at higher risk for these reactions. Laboratory studies have shown that normal dogs make antibodies against many vaccine components, even though they may not show an allergic reaction immediately following vaccination. Although the specific cause of allergic reactions in dogs remains unknown, vaccine components residual from the manufacturing process have been incriminated. These specific components need to be identified, so that manufacturers can make safer vaccines for dogs.

Researchers including Dr. George Moore at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine – with funding provided by the AKC Canine Health Foundation – are looking to identify causes of vaccine-induced allergic reactions. Using serum from dogs of high-risk breeds, this study will compare antibody concentrations in dogs demonstrating allergic reactions versus antibody concentrations in dogs of the same breed that don’t have reactions. To complete this study, samples are urgently needed from 5 high-risk breeds including the Dachshund, Pug dog, Chihuahua, Boston Terrier, and Miniature Pinscher.

Your dog may participate in this study if they are a member of this group, and have been vaccinated in the past three weeks. Two (2) ml of serum are needed per dog for the analyses, necessitating withdrawal of approximately 4-5 ml of blood. Samples may be taken from affected dogs as soon as clinical signs of an allergic reaction develop, or within 3 weeks thereafter. Samples may be taken from non-affected dogs as soon as the day following vaccination, or within 3 weeks thereafter.

For samples from dogs that meet the eligibility criteria, veterinarians can email the investigators their mailing address at: k9vaxrxn@purdue.edu. Postage-paid mailers will be sent to the veterinarian for return of the serum sample to the laboratory at Purdue.

For more information, please visit their website: http://www.vet.purdue.edu/k9vaxrxn/.

Research Area: Canine Cancer
Breeds: Akita, American Cocker Spaniel, Boxer, Bullmastiff, Chinese Shar-Pei, Chow Chow, English Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, Flat-Coated Retriever, German Shepherd, Giant Schnauzer, Golden Retriever, Greyhound, Labrador Retriever, Leonberger, Mastiff, Miniature Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer, Pointer, Pug, Rottweiler, Scottish Terrier, Standard Poodle, Standard Schnauzer, Toy Poodle

After completing the dog genome sequencing project, the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT and collaborators are now working on identifying disease genes predisposing to cancer. Identification of such genes could lead to carrier testing, a better understanding of the disease and long term better treatments for the disease in both dogs and humans. More information can be found at: www.broad.mit.edu/mammals/dog.

For each of the below diseases researchers need blood samples from affected dogs as well as blood samples from healthy older (>6 yo) dogs.

1. Osteosarcoma:
PI: Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, Broad and Kenine Comstock
Focus: Rottweilers and Greyhounds
Additional breeds included: ALL Mastiff and long limber breeds
Please contact: Dog-info@broad.mit.edu

2. Hemangiosarcoma:
PI: Kerstin Lindblad-Toh Broad and Chieko Azuma, Tufts
Focus: Golden Retrievers
Additional breeds included: German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Schnauzers, Bullmastiffs, Leonbergers, Poodles, Boxers, and Pointers
Please contact: Dog-info@broad.mit.edu

3. Mammary tumors
PI: Kerstin Lindblad-Toh Broad and Elizabeth McNiel
Focus: English Springer Spaniel
Additional breeds included: German Shepherds, Cocker Spaniels and Boxers
Please contact: Dog-info@broad.mit.edu

4. Melanoma
PI: Kerstin Lindblad-Toh Broad and Phil Bergman
Breeds included: ALL including Scottish Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Black Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, Chow Chows, and Pugs
Please contact: Dog-info@broad.mit.edu

5. Lymphoma
PI: Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, Broad
Focus: Golden Retrievers, Boxers
Additional breeds included: Cocker Spaniel, Rottweiler, Akita, Flat-Coated Retriever
Please contact: Dog-info@broad.mit.edu

6. Mast cell tumors
Collaborators: Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, Broad and Cheryl London, OSU
Focus: Pugs and Chinese Shar-Pei
Additional breeds included: Pit Bull Terrier, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Cocker Spaniel, Boxer
Please contact: Dog-info@broad.mit.edu

Research Area: Primary Lens Luxation
Breeds: Lancashire Heeler (aka Ormskirk Terrier), Parson Russell Terrier, Miniature Bull Terriers, all other terriers

Researchers at the Animal Health Trust require DNA samples from affected dogs and their close relatives (siblings, parents and grandparents, affected or unaffected). The DNA can be submitted as a 5ml EDTA blood sample or as a cheek swab and be accompanied by a 5-generation pedigree and any relevant health certificates / veterinary diagnoses.