Dataset Information

Computed Tomographic Measures of Funnel-Shaped Lumbar Vertebral Canal and Articular Process Dysplasia Malformations Differ Between German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois Military Working Dogs.

ABSTRACT: Researchers who study the selection and breeding program criteria for military working dogs aim to help maximize the years of active duty service. Computed tomographic (CT) quantitative phenotyping has been previously described as a method for supporting these research studies. Funnel-shaped lumbar vertebral foramen malformations have been previously described in Labrador retriever military working dogs and proposed to be risk factors for impaired arterial perfusion of nerve tissues during exercise. Articular process dysplasia malformations have been previously described in varying dog breeds and proposed to be risk factors for articular process degenerative joint disease and vertebral foramen stenosis. Aims of this retrospective, cross-sectional study were to describe quantitative CT phenotyping methods for characterizing funnel-shaped lumbar vertebral foramina and articular process dysplasia malformations and to apply these methods in a comparison between groups of German shepherd and Belgian Malinois military working dogs. A military working dog hospital's database was searched for German shepherd and Belgian Malinois dogs aged <6 years that had CT scans of the lumbosacral region during the period of 2008-2016. Observers unaware of CT findings recorded available clinical data for each of the dogs. An observer unaware of clinical data recorded CT measures of funnel-shaped lumbar vertebral foramina and articular process dysplasia malformations for each of dogs and each of the lumbar vertebrae that were available in the scans. A total of 59 dogs were sampled: 41 German shepherd and 18 Belgian Malinois. Articular process dysplasia and funnel-shaped vertebral foramen phenotypic traits were present in both breeds in this sample, with the frequency and quantitative measure of these traits being greater in German shepherd dogs and heavier dogs. Lower weight dogs had a lesser degree of a funnel-shaped foramen at all sampled vertebral locations. A consistent relationship between articular process dysplasia measures and body weight was not seen. Computed tomography measures of funnel shaped vertebral foramina were greater in German shepherd vs. Belgian Malinois dogs at the L7 vertebra (P < 0.01). The CT measures of cranial articular process dysplasia were greater in German shepherd vs. Belgian Malinois dogs at the L4 (P < 0.01) and L5 (P < 0.05) vertebrae.

SUBMITTER: Dragicevich CJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7266950 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Computed Tomographic Measures of Funnel-Shaped Lumbar Vertebral Canal and Articular Process Dysplasia Malformations Differ Between German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois Military Working Dogs.

Dragicevich Constance J CJ Jones Jeryl C JC Bridges William W Dunn Heather H

Frontiers in veterinary science 20200527

Researchers who study the selection and breeding program criteria for military working dogs aim to help maximize the years of active duty service. Computed tomographic (CT) quantitative phenotyping has been previously described as a method for supporting these research studies. Funnel-shaped lumbar vertebral foramen malformations have been previously described in Labrador retriever military working dogs and proposed to be risk factors for impaired arterial perfusion of nerve tissues during exerc ...[more]

PMID: 32528984

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Project description:Lumbosacral (LS) stenosis is a cause of lower back pain, loss of mission readiness, and early retirement in military working dogs (MWDs). Aims of the present two-part study were to evaluate a sample of German Shepherd MWDs using standard clinical criteria for LS pain, standard qualitative computed tomographic (CT) criteria for LS stenosis, novel quantitative CT criteria for LS stenosis, and novel behavioral classification criteria for LS pain. Data were retrieved from archives of a tertiary referral MWD hospital. Study 1 was a retrospective, observational, two-group design with a hypothesis that there would be a significant difference in the percentage of affected German Shepherd MWDs with multilevel stenosis (affecting ≥ 3 vertebrae) between LS pain groups, based on standard clinical and qualitative CT criteria. Study 2 was a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional, two- and three-group study design with a hypothesis that quantitative CT measurements would significantly differ between LS pain groups, assigned based on 3 classification systems. The 1st classification system used standard clinical criteria, while the 2nd and 3rd novel classifications included behavioral signs of LS pain. The following quantitative CT measures were recorded without knowledge of behavioral classification: vertebral foramen area, vertebral foramen volume, vertebral foramen fat area; and ratios of vertebral foramen area/vertebral body area (foramen area ratio), cranial vertebral foramen area/caudal vertebral foramen area (cranial:caudal foramen area ratio), and vertebral fat area/vertebral body area (fat area ratio). Study 1 findings did not support the hypothesis in that there was no significant difference in the percentage of dogs affected with multilevel stenosis between LS pain groups (P = 0.6567). Findings for study 2 supported the hypothesis in that dogs with LS pain were significantly more affected by multilevel stenosis (P = 0.0273). Significant differences occurred between LS pain groups in select vertebral locations for all measurements (P ≤ 0.05) except vertebral foramen area and vertebral foramen volume (P > 0.05). Comparisons using novel quantitative CT measures and behavioral classification criteria identified significant differences between LS pain groups that were not detected using standard qualitative criteria. These novel quantitative and behavioral classification criteria may be helpful in future research on causes for early retirement in German Shepherd MWDs.

Project description:Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in dogs, with an incidence ranging from 0.5% to up to 20% in particular breeds. Canine epilepsy can be etiologically defined as idiopathic or symptomatic. Epileptic seizures may be classified as focal with or without secondary generalization, or as primary generalized. Nine genes have been identified for symptomatic (storage diseases) and one for idiopathic epilepsy in different breeds. However, the genetic background of common canine epilepsies remains unknown. We have studied the clinical and genetic background of epilepsy in Belgian Shepherds. We collected 159 cases and 148 controls and confirmed the presence of epilepsy through epilepsy questionnaires and clinical examinations. The MRI was normal while interictal EEG revealed abnormalities and variable foci in the clinically examined affected dogs. A genome-wide association study using Affymetrix 50K SNP arrays in 40 cases and 44 controls mapped the epilepsy locus on CFA37, which was replicated in an independent cohort (81 cases and 88 controls; combined p?=?9.70×10?¹?, OR?=?3.3). Fine mapping study defined a ?1 Mb region including 12 genes of which none are known epilepsy genes or encode ion channels. Exonic sequencing was performed for two candidate genes, KLF7 and ADAM23. No variation was found in KLF7 but a highly-associated non-synonymous variant, G1203A (R387H) was present in the ADAM23 gene (p?=?3.7×10??, OR?=?3.9 for homozygosity). Homozygosity for a two-SNP haplotype within the ADAM23 gene conferred the highest risk for epilepsy (p?=?6.28×10?¹¹, OR?=?7.4). ADAM23 interacts with known epilepsy proteins LGI1 and LGI2. However, our data suggests that the ADAM23 variant is a polymorphism and we have initiated a targeted re-sequencing study across the locus to identify the causative mutation. It would establish the affected breed as a novel therapeutic model, help to develop a DNA test for breeding purposes and introduce a novel candidate gene for human idiopathic epilepsies.

Project description:BackgroundTrainability in dogs is affected by learning aptitude and memory capacity. While this trait has a heritable basis in canines, the specific genetic loci responsible for it remain unknown. Our previous results suggested that the BDNF, CCK and TAC1 genes are associated with learning and memory in canines. Experimental validation is crucial to confirm the effects of these candidate genes on trainability. Understanding the genetic foundation of this trait would offer insight into the inheritance pattern of complex behavioural characteristics.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the genetic variations within candidate genes and explore their potential associations with behavioural phenotypes in dogs.MethodsThe behavioural characteristics of 123 male Belgian Malinois dogs were assessed using a customised questionnaire. Target regions of candidate genes were screened for genetic variation by single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP). Following that, SSCP banding patterns were sequenced, and putative transcription factor binding sites were predicted using bioinformatics tools. Quantitative association analysis between identified genetic variants and behavioural trait scores was performed using the general linear model (GLM).ResultsSequencing the coding and flanking regions revealed three mutations (c.-89C>T, c.-162G>C and c.*33T>A) in the dog TAC1 gene. Bioinformatics analysis predicted two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were located within the putative TAC1 promoter and could disrupt transcription factor binding sites. Statistical tests revealed that the c.-89C>T was significantly associated with excitability (p < 0.01), while the c.-162G>C was significantly associated with trainability level (p < 0.05).ConclusionIn summary, we identified two regulatory SNPs in the 5'-UTR promoter region of the TAC1 gene that are associated with excitability and trainability in Belgian Malinois dogs. These genetic variations have the potential to alter the binding sites of transcription factors NRF1 and OTX1, consequently influencing TAC1 expression and related behavioural characteristics. Our findings implicate TAC1 polymorphisms as candidates influencing breed-specific behavioural characteristics in canines. Further studies on diverse breeds of dogs are necessary to validate these SNPs' effects.

Dataset Information

Computed Tomographic Measures of Funnel-Shaped Lumbar Vertebral Canal and Articular Process Dysplasia Malformations Differ Between German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois Military Working Dogs.

Publications

Computed Tomographic Measures of Funnel-Shaped Lumbar Vertebral Canal and Articular Process Dysplasia Malformations Differ Between German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois Military Working Dogs.

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