Category: Epilepsy
Please use our health reporting form to let us know of any instances of seizures so that we can include them in our health database by clicking the Report Health button in the menu or click here.
The Epilepsy study swab pathway is shown below.
Please choose which pathway you would like to take either:
PATHWAY 1 Affected dogs
or
PATHWAY 2 Unaffected dogs
Please also Note: If you sent any previous Epilepsy study swabs to the AHT you will not need to repeat them
Please click on Read More to view the full pathway.
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.
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.
Consideration needs to be given at all times to the fact that we do not know how this condition is inherited. Our gene pool is very small and we should not be excluding dogs or lines from being bred without good reason.
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
The genetics work is currently waiting for more samples so we can do a second round of genetic analysis. We urgently need a further 11 samples from affected dogs (FROM ANY COUNTRY) so if your dog has suffered from seizures and you would like to help with the research, please email bryan.mclaughlin@aht.org.uk and request a DNA sample kit for Italian Spinone Epilepsy research. These kits are free of charge for dogs taking part in the research. Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far.
Here is the AHT’s current advice for breeding from dogs who are related to confirmed idiopathic epileptics.
The over-enthusiastic removal of too many dogs from our gene pool could reduce the diversity of the breed and bring other inherited diseases to the fore. Relations of confirmed idiopathic epileptics (siblings, offspring, parents) that are used for breeding, should be mated to a dog that has no common ancestors within 3 generations. Click on Read More for the full AHT article.
What stage are we at with this research?
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Copyright © 2014 by The Italian Spinone Club of Great Britain.
On Friday 7th November, the Animal Health Trust hosted a Spinone Open Day at their premises near Newmarket, Suffolk. Our Speakers for the day were Dr Luisa De Risio, Head of Neurology, Dr Cathryn Mellersh, Head of Canine Genetics and Dr Davide Berlato, Head of Oncology.