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Geneticists find cause of cerebellar ataxia
"...the research has confirmed that we do still have carrier dogs in the present population, meaning an affected puppy could arise at any time."
DNA test now available for Norwegian buhunds  

Scientists at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) have identified a genetic mutation that is responsible for cerebellar ataxia in Norwegian buhunds.

A DNA test is now available from the trust, to help breeders identify carriers and prevent the disease being passed down to puppies.

Cerebellar ataxia can affect dogs from just 12 weeks of age, causing uncoordinated movement and head tremors. The disease is progressive but there is currently no effective treatment available, meaning affected animals are often euthanised on welfare grounds.

The breed’s health co-ordinator, Margaret Deuchar, commented: “Although we have not been aware of any clinically affected puppies in the last few years the research has confirmed that we do still have carrier dogs in the present population, meaning an affected puppy could arise at any time.

“With the DNA test now available we can prevent another puppy suffering this horrendous condition and hopefully over a number of years progressively reduce the prevalence of the mutant recessive gene - without making our numerically small gene pool even smaller, and thus putting the breed at increased risk of different genetic diseases.”

Geneticists tested 146 Norwegian buhunds - who were not showing signs of cerebellar ataxia - for the causative mutation. The group of 146 dogs consisted of 70 UK dogs (from which samples were collected between 2008-2015), 36 UK dogs (from which samples were collected in 2017) and 40 dogs from Finland (born 1998-2012).

The first UK set of dogs (2008-2015) included significantly more carriers than the other two sets, but carriers of the mutation were identified in both the UK samples from 2017 and the samples from Finland. This shows the mutation is still present in the Norwegian buhund population.

Hereditary cerebellar ataxia appears to be recessive in Norwegian buhunds, according to the AHT. None of the unaffected 146 dogs had two copies of the mutation, whereas all affected dogs that were tested as part of the research had two copies of the mutation.

Dr Cathryn Mellersh, head of canine genetics at the AHT, said: “We’re very happy to be able to help this breed swiftly eliminate any potential carriers, and therefore affected dogs with cerebellar ataxia, and to demonstrate that whole genome sequencing really works as a method of speeding up mutation identification and developing new DNA tests.”

The DNA test can be ordered from: www.ahtdnatesting.co.uk

Image courtesy of AHT

 

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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. 

Click here for more...
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.