Category: Health & Welfare

Articles about Health & Welfare

AHT Update January 2018

Posted on by gifts_l2p6pp

The ISCGB and AHT are delighted to announce that samples for a second GWAS (genome scan) for Idiopathic Epilepsy in the Italian Spinone have been sent off for genotyping. This set of samples includes 24 affected and 24 unaffected dogs, and we will use a brand new genotyping array. This exciting new tool means that instead of comparing 174,000 markers across the genome, which were used for the first GWAS, we will be able to compare over 710,000 markers. This will allow us to compare the regions of the genome in a much higher resolution when we are looking for areas associated with idiopathic epilepsy. We will also be able to combine the new data from these 48 dogs with the data from the original GWAS of 59 dogs, and perform an analysis of the complete set of 107 dogs.

We look forward to being able to give you an update later this year once we have received the data and have been able to do some analysis.

A huge thank you for all of you who have provided samples for this research.

Spinone Genome Project AHT Update

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The AHT is pleased to confirm that by the end of 2017 they will have sequenced the entire genomes of four Italian Spinone, all of which will be dogs with a confirmed diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy.  Three of these are being funded by the Italian Spinone Club of Great Britain as part of the Give a Dog a Genome project.  Two of the genomes were among the first genomes to be sequenced by the AHT and the remaining two will be completed later this year.  Analysis of the genome sequence data will commence shortly, although it will be a significant undertaking as each genome contains an equivalent number of letters as 440 complete sets of the complete Harry Potter series.

AHT Update February 2017

Posted on by gifts_l2p6pp

What stage are we at with this research?
In early 2015, scientists at the AHT conducted a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS), or DNA scan, in the Italian Spinone to search for regions of the DNA that might be involved in idiopathic epilepsy. Our cases were 30 Italian Spinoni confirmed as having idiopathic epilepsy by Dr Luisa De Risio, Head of Neurology at the AHT, through survey or examination at the AHT. The controls used were 29 Italian Spinoni over the age of seven which had never had a seizure. We were unable to identify any regions of the DNA that are associated with epilepsy in the Italian Spinone. To take this research further we would ideally like to repeat the GWAS with an additional 30 cases and 30 controls.

Continue reading “AHT Update February 2017” →

Calling All Spinone Owners and Breeders

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Calling all Spinone owners and breeders past and present.
 
If you have ever owned or bred a Spinone that has had one or more seizures please support the ISCGB Spinone Health Database and epilepsy research project by completing a short survey for us. We will soon be undertaking a 2nd Genome Wide Association Study to try and identify the genes involved in causing seizures.  We need to make sure that every dog possible is included in the research so even if you have already taken part, please spare us a few seconds to complete a very short questionnaire. Thank you very much for your continued support.
 
 

RVC Pexion Research Study

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As part of BARC (Bio-Acquisition Research Collaboration), the Kennel Club would like to inform you of the current study by the Royal Veterinary College, investigating the effects of the anti-epileptic drug Pexion (Imepitoin) on behaviour of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.

For further information, please click here. You can also visit our BARC page