Evaluation of the effects of asymmetric lumbosacral transitional vertebra on pelvic morphology in dogs using ventrodorsal radiographs.

Background: A lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LTV) is a congenital anomaly of the caudal vertebral column. It has been associated with asymmetrical canine hip dysplasia (CHD) and cauda equina syndrome (CES) in German Shepherd dogs. This retrospective cross-sectional study aims to report the potential influence of asymmetric LTV on pelvic anatomy using ventrodorsal (VD) radiographs.

Immunological Pre-Metastatic Niche in Dogs With Naturally Occurring Osteosarcoma.

Pre-metastatic niche (PMN) formation is essential for metastatic development and drives organotropism. Tumour-derived extracellular vesicles and soluble factors remodel the microenvironment of distant metastatic organs before subsequent metastasis. Dogs with osteosarcoma (OS) have proven to be excellent disease models for their human companions.

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis in a Schapendoes dog is caused by a missense variant in CLN6.

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) is a group of neurodegenerative disorders that occur in humans, dogs, and several other species. NCL is characterised clinically by progressive deterioration of cognitive and motor function, epileptic seizures, and visual impairment. Most forms present early in life and eventually lead to premature death.

Lumbosacral transitional vertebra in 14 dog breeds in Norway: Occurrence, risk factors and association with hip dysplasia.

A lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LTV) is a congenital anomaly of the spine and has been suggested to predispose to canine hip dysplasia (CHD). This retrospective, cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of LTV and CHD among 14 dog breeds in Norway, the possible associations with risk factors, and whether LTV was a risk factor for the development of hip dysplasia. The results were based on evaluation of ventrodorsal radiographs from the CHD screening program from the Norwegian Kennel Club from February 2014 to January 2022.

Cataracts in Havanese: genome wide association study reveals two loci associated with posterior polar cataract.

Background: Cataract is considered an important health issue in Havanese, and studies indicate a breed predisposition. Possible consequences of cataracts include lens induced uveitis, reduced eyesight, and blindness in severe cases. Reducing the prevalence of cataracts could therefore improve health and welfare significantly.

Genomic analysis of firework fear and noise reactivity in standard poodles.

Background: Fear of firework noises and other loud, sudden noises (noise reactivity) is a significant problem for many dogs and may have a negative effect on both welfare and, in severe cases, the life expectancy of dogs. A wide range of behavior traits, including fear-related behaviors, have high heritability estimates in dogs. The aim of this study was to estimate genomic heritability for fear of fireworks and loud noises in dogs.

Bayesian mixed model analysis uncovered 21 risk loci for chronic kidney disease in boxer dogs.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 10% of the human population, with only a small fraction genetically defined. CKD is also common in dogs and has been diagnosed in nearly all breeds, but its genetic basis remains unclear. Here, we performed a Bayesian mixed model genome-wide association analysis for canine CKD in a boxer population of 117 canine cases and 137 controls, and identified 21 genetic regions associated with the disease.

PIK3CA is recurrently mutated in canine mammary tumors, similarly to in human mammary neoplasia.

Biological features of neoplastic disease affecting mammary gland tissue are shared between canines and humans. Research performed in either species has translational value and early phase clinical trials performed in canines with spontaneous disease could be informative for human trials. The purpose of this study was to investigate the somatic genetic aberrations occurring in canine mammary neoplasia by exome capture and next generation sequencing.

Comparative analysis of the molecular subtype landscape in canine and human mammary gland tumors.

Breast cancers in humans belong to one of several intrinsic molecular subtypes each with different tumor biology and different clinical impact. Mammary gland tumors in dogs are proposed as a relevant comparative model for human breast cancer; however, it is still unclear whether the intrinsic molecular subtypes have the same significance in dogs and humans. Using publicly available data, we analyzed gene expression and whole-exome sequencing data from 158 canine mammary gland tumors.

Breed distributions for diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism in Norwegian dogs.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypothyroidism are common canine endocrinopathies. Both canine DM and primary hypothyroidism are assumed to originate from autoimmune destruction of the respective endocrine glands and have been associated with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene region. This study aims to investigate breed distributions for DM and hypothyroidism in the Norwegian canine population by calculating odds ratios (OR) from two different comparator groups.

A 1 bp deletion in HACE1 causes ataxia in Norwegian elkhound, black.

A number of inherited ataxias is known in humans, with more than 250 loci implicated, most of which are included in human ataxia screening panels. Anecdotally, cases of ataxia in the Norwegian elkhound black have been known for the last 40 years. Affected puppies from three litters were clinically and neurologically examined, and postmortem samples were collected for morphological studies, including ultrastructural analyses.

A Missense Variant in the Bardet-Biedl Syndrome 2 Gene () Leads to a Novel Syndromic Retinal Degeneration in the Shetland Sheepdog.

Canine progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) describes a group of hereditary diseases characterized by photoreceptor cell death in the retina, leading to visual impairment. Despite the identification of multiple PRA-causing variants, extensive heterogeneity of PRA is observed across and within dog breeds, with many still genetically unsolved. This study sought to elucidate the causal variant for a distinct form of PRA in the Shetland sheepdog, using a whole-genome sequencing approach.

Heritability of distichiasis in Havanese dogs in Norway.

Background: Distichiasis is a presumed inherited eyelid disease, characterized by misplaced eyelashes. The effect on eye health and animal welfare varies between individuals; most mild cases show no clinical signs, but some affected animals develop painful corneal disease. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and heritability of distichiasis in the Norwegian population of Havanese dogs.

Early immunohistochemical detection of pulmonary micrometastases in dogs with osteosarcoma.

Background: Despite decades of research, the early phases of metastatic development are still not fully understood. Canine osteosarcoma (OS) is a highly aggressive cancer, with a high metastatic rate (> 90%), despite a low overt metastatic prevalence at initial diagnosis (< 15%). Canine OS is generally regarded as a good clinically relevant model for human OS.

Roan, ticked and clear coat patterns in the canine are associated with three haplotypes near usherin on CFA38.

White coat patterning is a feature of many dog breeds and is known to be coded primarily by the gene micropthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). This patterning in the coat can be modified by other factors to produce the attractive phenotypes termed 'ticked' and 'roan' that describe the presence of flecks of color that vary in distribution and intensity within otherwise 'clear' white markings. The appearance of the pigment in the white patterning caused by ticking and roaning intensifies in the weeks after birth.

Short and sweet: foreleg abnormalities in Havanese and the role of the FGF4 retrogene.

Background: Cases of foreleg deformities, characterized by varying degrees of shortened and bowed forelegs, have been reported in the Havanese breed. Because the health and welfare implications are severe in some of the affected dogs, further efforts should be made to investigate the genetic background of the trait. A FGF4-retrogene on CFA18 is known to cause chondrodystrophy in dogs.

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis in Salukis is caused by a single base pair insertion in CLN8.

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are heterogenic inherited lysosomal storage diseases that have been described in a number of species including humans, sheep, cattle, cats and a number of different dog breeds, including Salukis. Here we present a novel genetic variant associated with the disease in this particular breed of dog. In a clinical case, a Saluki developed progressive neurological signs, including disorientation, anxiety, difficulties in eating, seizures and loss of vision, and for welfare reasons, was euthanized at 22 months of age.

Compliance between clinical and genetic diagnosis of choroidal hypoplasia in 103 Norwegian Border Collie puppies.

Objective: To describe the frequency of the nonhomologous end-joining factor 1 (NHEJ1) mutation and the compliance between clinical and genetic diagnosis of choroidal hypoplasia (CH) in a group of Norwegian Border Collies.

Animals Studied: Border collie puppies in the age from 5 to 8 weeks.

Material And Methods: Puppies included in the study had a complete ophthalmological examination.

Cataracts in the Norwegian Buhund-current prevalence and characteristics.

Objective: To evaluate prevalence and characteristics of cataracts in the Norwegian Buhund breed 20 years after high reported prevalence of especially pulverulent nuclear cataracts (PNCs).

Animals Studied: Two hundred and fifty Norwegian Buhund dogs in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark (117 males and 133 females) with previously unknown eye health status were included. Forty-five dogs had multiple examinations (two to six times over a 6-year period).

A genome-wide association study identifies a region strongly associated with symmetrical onychomadesis on chromosome 12 in dogs.

Symmetrical onychomadesis causes periodic loss of claws in otherwise healthy dogs. Genome-wide association analysis in 225 Gordon Setters identified a single region associated with symmetrical onychomadesis on chromosome 12 (spanning about 3.3 mb).

Genome-Wide Analysis Identifies Germ-Line Risk Factors Associated with Canine Mammary Tumours.

Canine mammary tumours (CMT) are the most common neoplasia in unspayed female dogs. CMTs are suitable naturally occurring models for human breast cancer and share many characteristics, indicating that the genetic causes could also be shared. We have performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in English Springer Spaniel dogs and identified a genome-wide significant locus on chromosome 11 (praw = 5.

A statistical assessment of the biological relationship between simultaneous canine mammary tumours.

Simultaneous canine mammary tumours (CMTs) are frequently reported in the literature, but few studies have addressed their biological relationship in detail or performed statistical assessments. In this study, 269 canine mammary gland tumours from 216 dogs were categorized using an extended histopathological classification, where semiquantitative and binomial scales enumerated morphological parameters of the tumours. The classification facilitated a statistical study of the biological relationship between simultaneous within-dog tumours.

Genetics and epidemiology of hypothyroidism and symmetrical onychomadesis in the Gordon setter and the English setter.

Background: Hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine disorders, whereas symmetrical onychomadesis is a rare claw disease in the general dog population. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of hypothyroidism and symmetrical onychomadesis in a birth cohort of 291 Gordon setters at eight years of age. Further, to describe the age at diagnosis of hypothyroidism in the 68 Gordon setters and 51 English setters included in the DLA study.