Cross-species analysis of genetic architecture and polygenic risk scores for non-contact ACL rupture in dogs and humans.

Non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a common serious orthopaedic disease in humans and dogs. Familial risk has been recognized in both species but interactions between genetic effects and environmental risk are not understood. We investigated ACL rupture heritability, genetic architecture, selection pressure, sharing of risk genes and biological pathways, and polygenic risk score (PRS) prediction of disease risk.

Pathologic classification of a late-onset peripheral neuropathy in a spontaneous Labrador retriever dog model.

Late-onset peripheral neuropathy (LPN) is a heritable canine neuropathy commonly found in Labrador retrievers and is characterized by laryngeal paralysis and pelvic limb paresis. Our objective was to establish canine LPN as a model for human hereditary peripheral neuropathy by classifying it as either an axonopathy or myelinopathy and evaluating length-dependent degeneration. We conducted a motor nerve conduction study of the sciatic and ulnar nerves, electromyography (EMG) of appendicular and epaxial musculature, and histologic analysis of sciatic and recurrent laryngeal nerves in LPN-affected and control dogs.

Neurofilament light chain concentration does not correlate with disease status in Labrador Retrievers affected with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) concentration was altered in Labrador Retrievers with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis (ILP) compared to a control population. A secondary aim was to investigate relationships between age, height, weight, and body mass index in the populations studied.

Animals: 123 dogs: 62 purebred Labrador Retrievers with ILP (ILP Cases) and 61 age-matched healthy medium- to large-breed dogs (Controls).

Fibrotic myopathy and contracture of the caudal thigh musculature: a prospective study of 41 dogs (2019-2022).

Objective: To determine the presentation, diagnosis, progression, and family risk of fibrotic myopathy, a disease with marked breed predisposition in the German Shepherd Dog (GSD).

Animals: 41 dogs prospectively recruited to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Comparative Genetics and Orthopedic Laboratory between November 2019 to August 2022.

Methods: Medical records of dogs diagnosed with fibrotic myopathy were reviewed upon referral.

Selection signature analyses and genome-wide association reveal genomic hotspot regions that reflect differences between breeds of horse with contrasting risk of degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis.

Degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis is a progressive idiopathic condition that leads to scarring and rupture of suspensory ligament fibers in multiple limbs in horses. The prevalence of degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis is breed related. Risk is high in the Peruvian Horse, whereas pony and draft breeds have low breed risk.

Ultrasonography and CT of the vas deferens in a neutered male dog with chronic exogenous estrogen exposure.

A 2-year-old male neutered Rat Terrier was presented for alopecia, recurrent urinary tract infections, and urinary incontinence. Abdominal ultrasound and CT identified a thin, tubular, paired structure arising from the craniodorsal aspect of an enlarged, cystic prostate. An atypical uterus masculinus was initially suspected, however it was then identified that the patient had chronic exogenous estrogen exposure, and surgical resection and histopathology was consistent with an enlarged and inflamed vas deferens.

Evaluation of outcomes following subtotal colectomy for the treatment of idiopathic megacolon in cats.

Objective: To evaluate outcomes in cats undergoing subtotal colectomy for the treatment of idiopathic megacolon and to determine whether removal versus nonremoval of the ileocecocolic junction (ICJ) was associated with differences in outcome.

Animals: 166 client-owned cats.

Procedures: For this retrospective cohort study, medical records databases of 18 participating veterinary hospitals were searched to identify records of cats with idiopathic megacolon treated by subtotal colectomy from January 2000 to December 2018.

Heritability and genetic variance estimation of Osteosarcoma (OSA) in Irish Wolfhound, using deep pedigree information.

Background: Osteosarcoma (OSA) is a devastating disease that is common in the Irish Wolfhound breed. The aim of this study was to use a pedigree-based approach to determine the heritability of OSA in the Irish Wolfhound using data from a large publically available database.

Results: The pedigree used for this study included 5110 pure-bred Irish Wolfhounds, including 332 dogs diagnosed with OSA and 360 control dogs; dogs were considered controls if they lived over 10 years of age and were not reported to have developed OSA.

Biologically Enhanced Genome-Wide Association Study Provides Further Evidence for Candidate Loci and Discovers Novel Loci That Influence Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture in a Dog Model.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a common condition that disproportionately affects young people, 50% of whom will develop knee osteoarthritis (OA) within 10 years of rupture. ACL rupture exhibits both hereditary and environmental risk factors, but the genetic basis of the disease remains unexplained. Spontaneous ACL rupture in the dog has a similar disease presentation and progression, making it a valuable genomic model for ACL rupture.

Analysis of copy number variation in dogs implicates genomic structural variation in the development of anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is an important condition of the human knee. Second ruptures are common and societal costs are substantial. Canine cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture closely models the human disease.

Neurofilament light plasma concentration positively associates with age and negatively associates with weight and height in the dog.

Plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) concentration is a biomarker for neuroaxonal injury and degeneration and can be used to monitor response to treatment. Spontaneous canine neurodegenerative diseases are a valuable comparative resource for understanding similar human conditions and as large animal treatment models. The features of pNfL concentration in healthy dogs is not well established.

Late-onset laryngeal paralysis: Owner perception of quality of life and cause of death.

Background: Late-onset laryngeal paralysis (LoLP) is an idiopathic disease of older dogs, and is common in the Labrador Retriever. Owner perspective of how LoLP affects their pet's quality of life (QOL), the degree to which LoLP is perceived to be a life-limiting disease, and how a glottic opening procedure affects these perceptions is not known.

Objectives: (a) To determine owner's perception of late-onset laryngeal paralysis (LoLP) with respect to their dog's QOL; (b) To determine whether LoLP is considered by owners to be a life-limiting disease; (c) To evaluate whether a glottic opening procedure altered QOL and perceived cause of death in affected dogs.

Contribution of Habitual Activity to Cruciate Ligament Rupture in Labrador Retrievers.

Objective:  The aim of this study was to describe the contribution of signalment and habitual activity in the development of cruciate ligament rupture (CR) in Labrador Retrievers.

Study Design:  Four hundred and twelve client-owned purebred Labrador Retrievers were recruited. Dogs were assigned either as affected with CR or as controls based on signalment, physical examination and radiographic evidence of disease.

Genome-wide association studies and genetic testing: understanding the science, success, and future of a rapidly developing field.

Dog owners are increasingly interested in using commercially available testing panels to learn about the genetics of their pets, both to identify breed ancestry and to screen for specific genetic diseases. Helping owners interpret and understand results from genetic screening panels is becoming an important issue facing veterinarians. The objective of this review article is to introduce basic concepts behind genetic studies and current genetic screening tests while highlighting their value in veterinary medicine.

Multivariate genome-wide association analysis identifies novel and relevant variants associated with anterior cruciate ligament rupture risk in the dog model.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament rupture (ACLR) is a debilitating and potentially life-changing condition in humans, as there is a high prevalence of early-onset osteoarthritis after injury. Identification of high-risk individuals before they become patients is important, as post-treatment lifetime burden of ACLR in the USA ranges from $7.6 to $17.

Use of a platelet-rich plasma-collagen scaffold as a bioenhanced repair treatment for management of partial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs.

Dogs are commonly affected with cruciate ligament rupture (CR) and associated osteoarthritis (OA), and frequently develop a second contralateral CR. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a component of whole blood that contains numerous growth factors, which in combination with a collagen scaffold may act to promote bioenhanced primary repair of ligament. This study tested the hypothesis that treatment of partial stable CR stifles with an intra-articular collagen scaffold and PRP would decrease the disease progression, synovitis and risk of complete CR over a 12-month study period.

Temporal mechanically-induced signaling events in bone and dorsal root ganglion neurons after in vivo bone loading.

Mechanical signals play an integral role in the regulation of bone mass and functional adaptation to bone loading. The osteocyte has long been considered the principle mechanosensory cell type in bone, although recent evidence suggests the sensory nervous system may play a role in mechanosensing. The specific signaling pathways responsible for functional adaptation of the skeleton through modeling and remodeling are not clearly defined.

Evaluation of Translaryngeal Percutaneous Arytenoid Lateralization (TPAL) in dogs with experimentally created laryngeal paralysis.

The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of Translaryngeal Percutaneous Arytenoid Lateralization (TPAL) in dogs with experimentally created laryngeal paralysis. All dogs (n=5) underwent bilateral recurrent laryngeal neurectomy before TPAL. Two TPAL suture techniques were evaluated.

Multimodal treatment of a dog with disseminated cutaneous viral papillomatosis.

Background: Canine papillomaviruses (CPVs) are associated with varied cutaneous manifestations. Spontaneous resolution typically occurs within one to 12 months. This case report describes multimodal treatment of a dog with severe disseminated papillomatosis.

Radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging predicts severity of cruciate ligament fiber damage and synovitis in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture.

Cruciate ligament rupture (CR) and associated osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition in dogs. Dogs frequently develop a second contralateral CR. This study tested the hypothesis that the degree of stifle synovitis and cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) matrix damage in dogs with CR is correlated with non-invasive diagnostic tests, including magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Genome-wide association analysis in dogs implicates 99 loci as risk variants for anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a common condition that can be devastating and life changing, particularly in young adults. A non-contact mechanism is typical. Second ACL ruptures through rupture of the contralateral ACL or rupture of a graft repair is also common.