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Multi-species study reveals new insights into OCD
Canine OCD normally manifests as excessive licking, sucking, or tail chasing.

Researchers identify new genes associated with the disorder

A study by US scientists has revealed new insights into the genetics underlying obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in humans and animals.

Researchers at the Broad Institute, Massachusetts, compared genetic information across multiple species that suffer from compulsive behaviour disorders and found four new genes with OCD-variants in humans.

The genes are thought to disrupt synapse development and throw neural pathways in the brain out of balance. The data is published in the journal Nature Communications.

OCD is a mental health disorder that affects some 80 million people worldwide. Obtained by inheritance, the biology of the disorder is still poorly understood.

To better understand the disorder, the team compiled a list of genetic associations from previous studies of human and animal OCD. The team used the data to refine a list of more than 600 genes and 80,000 related regulatory elements that might be involved in human OCD.

As part of the study, the researchers assessed genetic studies of canine OCD, which normally manifests as excessive licking, sucking, or tail chasing.

“We were seeking ways to take advantage of information from other species in order to inform and focus the study in humans,” explained study author Hyun Ji Noh. “Each additional species that we looked at gave us more information about possible factors in the brain that contribute to OCD.”

The four genes identified by the team - NRXN1, HTR2A, CTTNBP2 and REEP3 - all showed variants in either protein-coding or regulatory DNA significantly associated with human OCD.

Researchers say the data suggest new targets to pursue an improved biological and therapeutic understanding of OCD.

Image (C) Lil Shepherd.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.