Genetic testing for diseases in Yorkies still in its infancy...
 

Hi,

While doing research on available DNA tests for genetic diseases in Yorkies, I came across a peer-reviewed article from April 2013 that provides a link to an updated list of DNA tests available for genetic diseases in dogs and cats. Yorkies clock in with only three tests--two for eye problems (Primary Lens Luxation and Progressive Retinal Atrophy, prcd), and one for a metabolic disease (L2-Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria). Genetic testing for Yorkies is still in its infancy :(. Links to the labs that do the testing are provided:

Canine and Feline Hereditary Disease (DNA) Testing Laboratories

Oh, by the way, there are labs that do testing for coat color genes in Yorkies, including the Biewer trait, but since those are not diseases, they are not included in the database I linked to above.

Oh, and there are also labs that do breed purity testing AND parentage testing. In other words, our dear little Minnie and her parents could be tested to she if she was the offspring of the two reported parents--however, the cost is triple that of a single dog DNA test, so it gets kind of expensive. I only recommend the breed purity test for Minnie for now...

Here's a lab that does coat color and DNA parentage testing for Yorkies: http://www.healthgene.com/canine-dna-testing/

You are such a breath of fresh air on YT. I have a feeling you have some connection with U of I vet school????? Thank you for everything you have contributed in the short amount of time you have been on this forum.

Thanks :). Actually, I'm with the USDA, and canine genetics is not my specialty, but I can understand the literature reasonably well, and can access all of the major veterinary medicine journals on-line. I drive by the vet school on my way to work every day, LOL!

I knew that they were working on a test that would tell you if your dog had the parti trait, but as of last year it still hadn't been available. I assume this is the same test, maybe one of our breeders here knows. Anyway, this should take lots of the guesswork out of things and alleviate some of that paranoia.

A question for you pstinard, I've read that they can produce the genetic code for cats, but they can't do this for dogs yet because the code is so rich and diverse. Is this true and am I even phrasing this correctly? It had something to do with cloning a dog vs. cloning a cat.

The feline genome (DNA) has been sequenced. Here is a link that describes this: Domestic cat genome sequenced

It looks like the DNA of a boxer has been sequenced too. Here is a link to information: Dog Genome Project | Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

It looks like the dog genome was sequenced two years before the cat...

Your contributions to date, and I am sure in the future, are absolutely
priceless...especially to those of us that are breeding these wonderful dogs, and trying so very diligently to step gingerly thru the minefield of diseases and conditions that affect our beloved breed!

Oh thank you for understanding my question. :D

Yes, I knew what you meant :). And I need to correct myself--the dog genome was actually sequenced 2 years before the cat genome (2005 vs. 2007). Needless to say, they are still analyzing the data, and since they only completely sequenced single animals, they need to do more sequencing to determine the differences between breeds.

Oh this is interesting for any dog, not just the Yorkie: Dog Diseases | Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard


We need DNA samples from purebred dogs suffering from the diseases we are currently studying (described below), as well as from older, healthy dogs from the same breeds. If you would like to submit a sample, please ask your veterinarian to collect 5 milliliters of blood from your dog (click here for more information). Although we appreciate that many people and dogs want to help, using samples from only purebred dogs will ensure the fastest progress for all dogs.

Diseases we study:






Cancers
•Hemangiosarcoma
• Osteosarcoma (bone cancer)
• Lymphoma
• Mast Cell Tumors (MCT)
• Mammary Tumors
• Melanoma (skin cancer)
• Glioma

Cardiovascular Diseases

•Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
• Degenerative valve disease

Neurological Disease & Behavior
•Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
• Idiopatic epilepsy
•Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Immunological & Metabolic Diseases

•Familial Shar-Pei Fever (FSF)
• Addison's disease
•Symmetrical Lupoid Onychodystrophy (SLO)
•Atopic dermatitis
•Diabetes
•Lymphocytic thyroiditis
•Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)
•Toller Diseases (SLE & SRMA)
Other
•Dermoid sinus (DS)
•Juvenile Demodicosis
•Juvenile Renal Dysplasia (JRD)
•Hairlessness/Canine Ectodermal Dysplaysia (CED)
•Progressive Cone-Rod Dystrophy (PCRD)
•Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Pseudopelade
•White coat color
•Pyometra

So sequencing is different than understanding the sequence? I don't know why, but I'm really excited about all this, it just seems like we can learn so much.

I knew of two. But what about hyperuricosuria I thought that genetic test was relevant across all breeds?

Phil it is in its infancy in almost all breeds. Some huge across very many breeds are HD and ED.

Cancer.

Cataracts

Deafness - some tests are available genetically for some breeds.

Heart Disease of various types how about PDA which can affect almost any breed?

DLSS thought to be genetic in a few breeds no genetic marker yet.


Hyperuricosuria genetic test of of U of Davis. is that the same as the L2 genetic test?


You have stepped into a vast pool. We the dog fancy world and vets are literally in the infancy of having many true genetic tests.

I can not stress enough how important this is. In particular those genetic markers and tests that pre screen across very many breeds of dogs.

You are a Godsend to this board if you can bear with us breeders, who have so many questions.

I am looking at COI and how to interpolate sibling results into a breeding matrix selection program?

And as we all know we hardly ever get sibling results.

You can check it by illness, and it shows they have a test for 15 breeds.

Hi Nancy, sequencing is just getting the DNA sequence--it looks like a string of letters of various combinations of C, A, G, and T. I doesn't mean anything until you understand what genes the DNA codes for, how they interact and are regulated, etc., and what happens when there is change (mutation) in the sequence. That extra work requires a lot of computer and lab work, and time...

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: This is a chance for us to make a contribution as individuals to helping develop new genetic tests. Thanks for the information!

Would you happen to know if there is any effort in the genome sequencing and analysis currently underway to relate the possibility of DNA damage and/or mutations that might have been due to intake of transgenic (GMO) products (such as the Starlink/Starlight corn cross-pollenation issue) or mutagens such as the free unbound glutamates (msg) which are excitatory neurotoxins and are routinely added, according to some researchers and ingredient lists, to many pet and human food products. I realize this question may cross a line where you have confidentiality, so if that is the case, I will not expect you to violate that trust. But, you have likely heard of Pottenger's cats, and you have already mentioned mutated DNA...which I would think would show up in a DNA sequence, so I was wondering if you think it is possible that the researchers may discover that some of the high incidence of 'thought to be hereditary' health issues within familial lines could be related/due to mutagenic pollutants in food, water, air, etc. Just curious...:D

Hi,

L2-Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria (excessive hydroxyglutaric acid in the urine) is different from Hyperuricosuria (excessive uric acid in the urine)--two different chemicals.

For those who are scratching their heads over COI, it means "coefficient of inbreeding," a measure of how inbred your breeding population is. Here is a link to a layman's description: A Beginner’s Guide to COI – Dog Breed Health

Sadly my young lass died of lymphoma and was cremated before I even knew this was asked for, and I would have contributed if I did know.

Why can't these research organizations get some idea on how to put this information out to all breed clubs in America and Canada?

Just saying

Hi, the transgenic corn that is out there so far is nontoxic from a health standpoint--yeah, I know it's controversial to say that, but that seems to be the scientific consensus. There could be allergic reactions on an individual basis, but no wholesale health problems. Additives are more problematic, but the FDA assures us they are safe--again, there could be individual allergic reactions. My personal opinion is that additives unrelated to improving nutritional content should be avoided where possible. Pollutants are another matter entirely. Some of them are mutagens and cancer-inducing, so yes, pollutants could be responsible for an increase in the incidence of hereditary genetic illnesses.

[QUOTE=pstinard;4227561]Hi, the transgenic corn that is out there so far is nontoxic from a health standpoint--yeah, I know it's controversial to say that, but that seems to be the scientific consensus. There could be allergic reactions on an individual basis, but no wholesale health problems. Additives are more problematic, but the FDA assures us they are safe--again, there could be individual allergic reactions. My personal opinion is that additives unrelated to improving nutritional content should be avoided where possible. Pollutants are another matter entirely. Some of them are mutagens and cancer-inducing, soQUOTE]


So just exactly what are pollutants? Fertilizers , genetic mutations to the core of what a plant was? Cutting the core out of a wheat germ kennel to mix with another kernel? Fiddling with the DNA of a certain plant to make them resistant to a certain bug and not understanding that that company put to death a certain insect or bee or wasp or fly that fed on this crop before it was a mutant?

So for me, my first love and care is for dogs. I home feed my dogs with organic ingredients I search out, andare home feed my family.

We are all of us are at a cusp of science and technology that can nuture and help us. But judiciously. We need bioethics experts not only in the human world but in the dog world

[quote=gemy;4227588]I think there is a consensus also that an inadequate amount of testing was done prior to releasing transgenic and chemical products. In other words, it is possible that there is truly no one who knows what to expect to have happen from consumption of these products.

I, too, make a very concerted effort to research every ingredient as far into its past as possible, back to the manufacturer's website and often beyond...and I reject most products based on my research, unfortunately, because I do not feel certain constituents should be consumed if one wishes to be well or have their pets be well and healthy.

I know for an absolute fact that, after being fed fairly decent, nutritionally sound foods, my dogs and cats won't touch many products...which I suppose is good in a way. Stores that offer treats could do it without me there and my Yorkies will shun them without me having to tell them to Leave It.

The physical changes that Pottenger observed with generations of cats were specifically related to their diet. It is very interesting reading, and I feed my babies as close to a species specific, nutritionally viable diet as possible.

Thank you. I very much value your opinion. It is nice to have the benefit of one who studies and practices in the field of genetics to comment on what possibilities might exist that might be affecting the real world results we have to deal with. For those who breed these darling Yorkies, it is of primary importance to avoid anything that might set back their breeding programs or cause genetic harm to their lines. I am not a breeder, but, on their behalf, and mine as well, I would like to thank you for all you have shared with us. :)

Hi, by pollutants, I meant fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and also industrial pollutants like mercury, dioxin, sulfur dioxide, etc. And I was only addressing the health effects of GMO corn, not the environmental effects. But I agree, we need more bioethecists in decision-making positions so ALL adverse effects can be considered.

Okay, thank you, I understand it more now. Such an exciting field, so much will be happening in the next 20 years. It just seems like once we understand one thing really well, it opens so many more doors.

:thumbup: It is very exciting...rather like opening a somewhat mysterious gift! :D

In some ways I think it is creating a Pandora's box, and our children will get to open that box!

Having said that; if we could find the genetic markers of HD and ED, I would kiss the ground!. Even more information and studies on how to through nutrition and early rearing practices, and later puppy feeding and practices minimize the severity of this condition.

I have found only one European study to date that with a relatively small sample size, has found out some interesting things. ON early nutrition, surfaces, feedings, and appropriate exercise.

Another USA paper through statistical analysis postulates that horizontal information is more usefull than the vertical pedigree for this scourge of large breeds. Interesting theory.

And then there is the all important spay and neuter question to boney growth and disease in those self same joints! And the pre-ponderance of evidenced base research is now finally now! growing.

To be an intelligent breeder, to give advice and support, to give instructions, to put your name and reputation behind your breedings, not to mention the financial implications of disease in your pups, is a huge undertaking.

I am not a not a Pet Breeder, nor will I ever be!. I am a show and working dog breeder. Trying my best to balance out the facets of a good working dog, married to what the show ring demands, in terms of coat and acceptable show temperament, head carriage, ear set, head configuration, tail length, etc. Those things I set out are for the most part un-important for the working dog. Except bite. We for the most part have a marriage of interests in structure. In internal organ health. Not so much in other more minor in our eyes things that happen in the conformation rings.

To me always is the health of my dogs, the dogs I breed, and what they might pass on to any of my puppies. I want always to produce very fine examples of the breed, that are healthy! And as a sidenote, they do always look like BRT's!

I kinda feel dumb reading this thread :D

I know, even I have to look up what some things mean--canine diseases are new to me, too. ED = Elbow dysplasia and HD = Hip Dysplasia, both are joint diseases of dogs, but so far, genetic testing for them is in its infancy, so they are hard to eliminate from breeding stock. If you have any questions, just ask!

For gemy, I found the following link that might be of interest:

Bioiberica develops the first DNA test to determine genetic predisposition to hip dysplasia in dogs - News and events | Bioiberica

There's also another scholarly article that might be behind a pay firewall, but for what it's worth, here is the link:

Canine hip dysplasia is predictable... [Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2011] - PubMed - NCBI

Never feel dumb. In my mind you are here and reading this thread, almost de-facto you are interested in the health and genetics of breeding.

As a pet owner, and a future pet owner, it is good to educate yourself, on these various threads. It will always help to inform your next decision.

I do use short-forms quite frankly as it is faster to do on typing, and those of us that know, know these short forms.

Keep reading, keep learning. I do!