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Access valuable information to help pet owners and veterinarians improve canine health and quality of life.
Infection & Immunity Research
The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) supports research on how dogs’ immune systems fight infections and protect against diseases, aiming to improve treatments and prevention strategies.
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A Common Skin Bacteria, Two Different Outcomes
Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (often abbreviated S. pseudintermedius) is the most common bacteria found on the skin of dogs. In most dogs, it causes no problems at all, much like the harmless bacteria that normally live on our skin. For some dogs, when their skin becomes irritated or damaged, like from scratching, moisture, or small wounds, the […]
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The Canine Immune Response to Valley Fever
Introduction Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis) is caused by inhaling spores from the Coccidioides fungus, which lives in desert soil. Dogs, humans, and other animals can breathe in these spores, especially in the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico and Central and South America. Thanks to funding from the AKC Canine Health Foundation, researchers have identified […]
Read MoreMajor Histocompatibility Complex and Autoimmune Disease in Dogs
Author: Steve Goodman The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) can best be described as the “factory floor” of the immune system. The MHC is an area of the human, and canine genome, which has been identified to code for the creation of proteins that the immune system uses to distinguish between foreign and non-foreign bodies. All […]
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Ebola: Understanding Viral Transmission, Pathogenesis and Why the Dog is Part of the Conversation
News Release For Immediate Release  In the news recently there have been reports of three health care workers, one in Spain and two in the United States, who have been diagnosed with Ebola virus. Two of these women are also dog owners. The dog in Spain was euthanized in the interest of public health. […]
Read More03209: Discovery of Major Antigenic Determinants of Antibody Responses to Colonizing and Infecting Canine Staphylococcus pseudintermedius
This study aims to better understand how dogs respond to a bacterium called Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (S. pseudintermedius). This bacterium can cause skin and soft tissue infections in dogs, and it is becoming harder to treat with antibiotics because it is becoming resistant to them. Many dogs naturally carry S. pseudintermedius without getting sick, but it […]
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Researching Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia in Dogs
Introduction Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) is a life-threatening condition where a dog’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own red blood cells, leading to severe anemia. This can cause weakness, collapse, and even death if untreated. Thanks to research funded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), scientists are uncovering the genetic and immune system mechanisms […]
Read MoreExploring the Landscape of Immunotherapy for Canine Osteosarcoma
The survival rate for dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma – bone cancer of the limbs – has not changed significantly over the past 30 years. The cancer has usually spread to other parts of the body when the primary tumor is diagnosed. Only 20% of dogs are still living two years after diagnosis and amputation of […]
Read More01712-A: Determining the Effect of Pain Medication on Immune Function: Part 2
Introduction: Opioids are often used to treat pain in many situations, including during the post-operative period and often in dogs with a high risk for infection. In addition to providing excellent pain control, opioids directly modulate the immune system. In other species, certain opioids suppress the beneficial aspects (e.g., phagocytosis and microbial killing) while promoting […]
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Chagas Disease Risk for Dogs in a Kennel Environment
Introduction Chagas disease is a serious and often fatal illness that affects dogs’ hearts—and it’s more common than many dog owners realize. A recent study funded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation reveals alarming infection rates in kennel-housed dogs, highlighting the urgent need for better prevention (02448: Canine Chagas Disease: Characterizing Cardiac Abnormalities, Vector Infection […]
Read More01105: Understanding the Dynamics of Canine Influenza Virus Transmission in Dog Populations and Intervention Strategies for Reducing Transmission
Canine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection of dogs caused by a novel influenza A virus of the subtype H3N8. H3N8 canine influenza virus (H3N8 CIV) has caused respiratory disease outbreaks in thousands of dogs located in 38 states in the U.S. Although most dogs recover from an influenza-like illness, many develop a debilitating […]
Read More03314: Evaluation of an immunotherapeutic bivalent vaccine in owned dogs naturally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi.
Chagas disease is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) which is prevalent in all the American continent including the US, afflicting humans as well as canines. The prognosis for infected dogs is poor due to the lack of effective treatment. In addition, they are a domestic reservoir and can increase […]
Read More02448: Canine Chagas Disease: Characterizing Cardiac Abnormalities, Vector Infection and Control Strategies, and Parasite Strains in Kennel Environments
Chagas disease is a parasitic infection that can cause acute death and chronic heart disease in any breed of dog, and there is no vaccination or approved treatment. There is currently an unprecedented recognition for canine Chagas disease in the southern US, where infected kissing bug vectors occur. The disease is well-studied in Latin America, […]
Read MoreResearch Updates from the 2019 AKC Canine Health Foundation National Parent Club Canine Health Conference
The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the health of all dogs and their owners, hosted the 2019 National Parent Club Canine Health Conference in St. Louis, MO on August 9 – 11, 2019. The biennial event, sponsored by Purina, brought together researchers, American Kennel Club (AKC) Parent Club members, […]
Read More01900-A: Prevalence of Vector Borne Disease in Dogs with Clinical Signs of Immune Mediated Disease
Expanded testing of acute and convalescent samples in this study provided evidence of infection with or exposure to vector borne disease in 24% of southern California dogs who presented for evaluation of clinical signs consistent with immune mediated or vector borne disease. These findings are important as anecdotally, vector borne disease is considered to be […]
Read More03083-A: Investigation into the Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Vector-borne Pathogen Coinfections in a Population of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected Dogs from Texas
Infection with the vector-borne parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the pathologic agent of canine Chagas disease, has remained a significant concern to dog owners for decades. Infections with T. cruzi are highly problematic for three reasons: 1) a significant percentage of dogs infected with T. cruzi will develop Chagas disease and eventually die of heart failure; 2) […]
Read More02408: Predicting the Outcome of Coccidioidomycosis in Naturally Infected Dogs
Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) is a systemic fungal infection endemic to the desert southwestern United States. Dogs are affected, with an estimated $60 million per year in diagnostic and treatment costs. Valley Fever has a variable clinical picture, ranging from subclinical infections to mild disease to severe, uncontrolled disease. Development of a vaccine to prevent, or […]
Read More02461-A: Innate immune response to Leptospira in naturally exposed dogs
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global occurrence and may result in life threatening illness in animals and humans. Leptospira may also reside in the kidney of many animal species including dogs without causing disease. Factors predisposing to clinical disease, carrier stage, or protection needs to be clarified. Dog are susceptible to fatal illness and […]
Read More01701-A: Determining the Effect of Pain Medication on Immune Function: Part 1
Grant Status: Closed Grant Amount: $12,960 Amy Elizabeth DeClue, DVM, MS; University of Missouri, Columbia February 1, 2012 – January 31, 2013 Sponsor(s): Agility Ability Club of Illinois, American Bullmastiff Association, Vizsla Club of America Welfare Foundation, Worcester County Kennel Club Breed(s): -All Dogs Research Program Area: Immunology and Infectious Disease Donate to Support this […]
Read More02983: Enhanced Detection and Characterization of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia Species in Dogs and Ticks with Focus on a Novel Rickettsia Species Infecting Clinically Ill Dogs in the U.S.
Dogs carry the burden of high exposure to tick-borne diseases, often alerting us to new and emerging pathogens before people are infected. Recently, investigators identified a new tick-borne spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR) species infecting seven clinically ill dogs in the U.S. All infected dogs had clinical signs like Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Genetic analysis […]
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