Polymyositis in Kooiker dogs is associated with a 39 kb deletion upstream of the canine IL21/IL2 locus.

Recently we characterized polymyositis in the Dutch Kooiker dog. The familial occurrence of the disease were suggestive of an inherited cause. Here we report the results of our molecular genetic investigation.

The effect of MRI-based screening and selection on the prevalence of syringomyelia in the Dutch and Danish Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Introduction: Syringomyelia (SM) is a heritable disorder causing a fluid filled cavity (FFC) in the spinal cord with a reported overall prevalence of 39 to 46% in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS). Breeders started screening their CKCS with MRI in the Netherlands since 2004 and in Denmark since 2015. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of MRI-based selection in breeding on the prevalence of SM.

Increasing age and severe intraoperative hypotension associated with nonsurvival in dogs with gallbladder mucocele undergoing cholecystectomy.

Objective: To identify prognostic indicators and inflammatory markers associated with nonsurvival in dogs with gallbladder mucoceles (GBMs) following cholecystectomy and to evaluate C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin concentrations in dogs with GBMs compared to healthy controls.

Animals: 25 dogs that underwent cholecystectomy for removal of GBM and 20 healthy control dogs.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter cohort study.

Descriptive analysis of haemangiosarcoma occurrence in dogs enrolled in the Golden Retriever lifetime study.

Haemangiosarcoma is a relatively common malignant tumour in dogs, and one of the primary outcomes of interest for the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study. This study collects longitudinal data and samples from a cohort of golden retrievers, with the aim of identification of nutritional, genetic, environmental, lifestyle and reproductive risk factors for cancers and other important diseases in dogs. This analysis describes the accumulating data and samples, which are available for use by researchers to fulfil the study's objectives.

Diagnosis and treatment of a congenital portosystemic shunt in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo).

A 3-year-old female neutered ferret presented with progressive weight loss was diagnosed with portosystemic shunting based on increased fasting bile acids, rectal ammonia tolerance testing and advanced imaging. Ammonia reference values were determined in 16 healthy ferrets. A congenital extrahepatic spleno-caval shunt was visualised with ultrasonography and CT angiography of the abdomen.

The Histopathological Characteristic of Gastric Carcinoma in the Belgian Tervueren and Groenendael Dog: A Comparison of Two Classification Methods.

Gastric carcinoma is generally considered to be a rare disease in dogs, carrying a grave prognosis. However, in the Tervueren and Groenendael varieties of the Belgian Shepherd dog breed, the disease is highly prevalent. While histopathology is the gold standard for diagnosing gastric carcinoma, there is no general consensus on the methods for histological classification in these cases.

An Inflammatory Myopathy in the Dutch Kooiker Dog.

The Dutch Kooiker dog (het Nederlandse Kooikerhondje) is one of nine Dutch dog breeds. As of 1960, a number of heritable diseases have been noted in this breed. One is an inflammatory myopathy that emerged in 1972, with numbers of affected dogs gradually increasing during the last few decades.

Veterinarians' Competence in Applying Basic Genetic Principles and Daily Implementation of Clinical Genetics: A Study in a University Environment.

Veterinarian competency in genetics is vital for a meaningful application of the rapidly growing number of genetic tests available for animals. We evaluated the use of genetic tests in the daily veterinary practice and the competency of university-employed veterinarians in applying basic principles of genetics in a clinical setting through an electronic survey with 14 cases and 7 statements on genetics. Ninety-one non-geneticist veterinarians from two veterinary faculties in two different countries responded.

Prognostic factors for continence after surgical correction of ectopic ureters of 51 dogs with long-term follow-up.

Background: An ectopic ureter is a congenital malformation characterized by caudal displacement of one or both ureteral orifices and is the most common cause of urinary incontinence in young dogs. Complete resolution of incontinence after surgery has been reported in 25-82% of dogs. The aim of this study was to identify preoperative prognostic factors for continence after surgical treatment of dogs with an ectopic ureter.

Prevalence of Echocardiographic Evidence of Trace Mitral and Aortic Valve Regurgitation in 50 Clinically Healthy, Young Adult Labrador Retrievers without Heart Murmur.

Though physiologic regurgitation of the right-sided cardiac valves is well recognized in dogs and other mammals, the prevalence of trace insufficiency of the mitral and aortic valves in clinically healthy, young adult dogs is unknown. In this observational cross-sectional study, 50 clinically healthy, young adult Labrador retrievers without an audible heart murmur were enrolled. All dogs were bred and owned by a single organization.

Secretion and uptake of copper via a small copper carrier in blood fluid.

Studies with Wilson disease model mice that accumulate excessive copper, due to a dysfunctional ATP7B "copper pump" resulting in decreased biliary excretion, showed that the compensatory increase in urinary copper loss was due to a small copper carrier (∼1 kDa) (SCC). We show here that SCC is also present in the blood plasma of normal and Wilson disease model mice and dogs, as determined by ultrafiltration and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). It is secreted by cultured hepatic and enterocytic cells, as determined by pretreatment with 67Cu nitrilotriacetate (NTA) or nonradioactive 5-10 μM Cu-NTA, and collecting and examining 3 kDa ultrafiltrates of the conditioned media, where a single major copper peak is detected by SEC.

Correction: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in dogs with gallbladder mucocele.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Veterinarians' Competence in Applying Basic Genetic Principles and Daily Implementation of Clinical Genetics: A Study in a University Environment.

Veterinarian competency in genetics is vital for a meaningful application of the rapidly growing number of genetic tests available for animals. We evaluated the use of genetic tests in the daily veterinary practice and the competency of university-employed veterinarians in applying basic principles of genetics in a clinical setting through an electronic survey with 14 cases and 7 statements on genetics. Ninety-one non-geneticist veterinarians from two veterinary faculties in two different countries responded.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in dogs with gallbladder mucocele.

Gallbladder mucocele (GBM) is a common biliary disorder in dogs. Gallbladder hypokinesia has been proposed to contribute to its formation and progression. The specific cause of gallbladder stasis in dogs with GBM as well as viable treatment options to resolve dysmotility remains unknown.

Investigation of Genetic Modifiers of Copper Toxicosis in Labrador Retrievers.

Copper toxicosis is a complex genetic disorder in Labrador retrievers characterized by hepatic copper accumulation eventually leading to liver cirrhosis. The variation of hepatic copper levels in Labrador retrievers has been partly explained by mutations in c.980C>T and c.

Evaluation of COMMD1 in copper toxicosis in Labrador retrievers and Dobermans.

Copper toxicosis is a major cause of hepatitis in dogs. We have shown that variants in ATP7A and ATP7B modulate hepatic copper levels in Labrador retrievers and Dobermans. However, these variants cannot fully explain the observed variation in hepatic copper levels in these dog breeds.

Hepatitis E virus seroprevalence in pets in the Netherlands and the permissiveness of canine liver cells to the infection.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) as an emerging zoonotic pathogen causes a major public health issue. Transmission from domestic, wildlife and zoo animals to human has been widely reported. Whether pets also serve as reservoirs remains an intriguing question.

Towards Bioengineered Liver Stem Cell Transplantation Studies in a Preclinical Dog Model for Inherited Copper Toxicosis.

Wilson Disease is a rare autosomal recessive liver disorder in humans. Although its clinical presentation and age of onset are highly variable, hallmarks include signs of liver disease, neurological features and so-called Kayser-Fleischer rings in the eyes of the patient. Hepatic copper accumulation leads to liver disease and eventually to liver cirrhosis.

Quantification of the health-status of the Dutch Labrador retriever population.

Health issues in purebred dogs are currently considered one of the biggest problems in companion animal health. The Labrador retriever (LR) is one of the most popular dog breeds. The aim of this study was to quantify LR breed health in comparison with mixed-breed dogs (MB), by using four different data sources: a veterinary practice management system (appr.

Effect of clinical signs, endocrinopathies, timing of surgery, hyperlipidemia, and hyperbilirubinemia on outcome in dogs with gallbladder mucocele.

Gallbladder mucocele (GBM) is a common extra-hepatic biliary syndrome in dogs with death rates ranging from 7 to 45%. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the association of survival with variables that could be utilized to improve clinical decisions. A total of 1194 dogs with a gross and histopathological diagnosis of GBM were included from 41 veterinary referral hospitals in this retrospective study.

Association of the canine ATP7A and ATP7B with hepatic copper accumulation in Dobermann dogs.

Background: Hepatic copper accumulation causes chronic hepatitis in dogs. Mutations in the copper transporters ATP7A and ATP7B were, respectively, associated with attenuation and enhancement of hepatic copper concentrations in Labrador Retrievers. There is a predisposition of Dobermanns to hepatitis with increased hepatic copper concentrations.

Heterozygosity testing and multiplex DNA panel screening as a potential tool to monitor health and inbreeding in a small, closed dog population.

Background: Selective breeding in populations with a limited effective population size may result in a loss of genetic diversity, which can cause an increased concentration of specific disease liability genes. The Dutch Shepherd Dog (DSD) in the Netherlands is an example of such a breed with a small effective population.

Objective: To evaluate the measurement of genetic diversity and multiplex DNA panel screening for implementation in a breeding strategy for the Dutch Shepherd Dog (DSD) and to investigate the clinical relevance of potentially identified mutations in the multiplex DNA panel screening.

Association of circulating microRNA-122 and microRNA-29a with stage of fibrosis and progression of chronic hepatitis in Labrador Retrievers.

Background: Chronic hepatitis (CH) in dogs is common and has the tendency to progress to liver cirrhosis (LC). Circulating microRNAs might have the potential as markers for disease progression.

Objectives: To investigate whether concentration of specific microRNAs in serum correlate with the stage and grade of CH in Labrador Retrievers.