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A recent
breakthrough (January - March 2010) is that the
matter of Polymyositis in the Hungarian Vizsla
has been extraordinarily fortunate to have
engaged the interest of RCVS and European
Specialist in Veterinary Neurology - Clare
Rusbridge -(BVMS, PhD, DipECVN, MRCVS)
With the collaboration of
the DNA Archive for Companion Animals Clare has
now set up a scheme to collect, store and
analyse the DNA of affected vizslas and also
that of their closest relatives (at this early
stage - sires, dams, offspring and siblings)
Further details are on Clare’s
website.
Relevant
Individuals
here
are the inclusion
criteria - identifying the status of the vizslas
for which sample submission is being invited.
Basically we are looking for relatives of PM
affected vizslas.
Please
everybody
contact us
to check whether your vizsla's contribution
would be useful. Most owners will not have
been made aware by their breeders that they
are part of a "significant" family.
Ways to help
For the current research
there are three ways in which owners can submit
their vizsla's DNA sample.
Types of Sample
Blood
here
are the phenotype forms and
instructions
for
the collection and shipping of blood
samples.
Saliva
Blood samples are not the only source of good
stable genetic material.
Recent technology has made
possible a technique whereby little sponges “mop
up” saliva in the mouth – the collection is done
by owners and is quick easy and painless. These
“MOPS” – produced by Oragene - produce really
useful
DNA material. We
can provide
please ask a “pack” containing everything that
is necessary - the DNA sample kits and all the
relevant paperwork (phenotype and owner
permission forms, pedigree documents etc)
together with detailed
instructions
on how to collect and ship the sample.
There is no charge to the owner - the kits even
come with prepaid address labels so cost can
never be an excuse not to contribute.
Toe nails
(absolutelyeverybody can help)
There is a concurrent DNA collection
programme to which ALL owners can
contribute. Toe nails! Please everybody
submit your vizslas' clippings. They are
a great source of stable DNA and we
believe that with ever advancing
technology they could prove invaluable
for future research in to ANY
inheritable illness. Extracting DNA from
toe nails is presently somewhat
laborious (and so will not be done
routinely) but the plan is to build up a
"DNA library" that in years to come
could be called upon should any of its
participants prove to be *key* Please
put the clippings in to a dry paper
envelope and clearly label it with the
vizsla's KC (or other) registered name
and owner contact details. Then put this
envelope in to another and send to Di
Addicott, Murrayfield, Lockerbie,
Dumfriesshire, DG11 2PJ
We hope with
these measures
to
one day identify the gene(s)
responsible for PM (and possibly other immune
mediated diseases also) but everything will depend on
the extent to which we manage to engage the
support and help not just of those who own an
affected vizsla but also that of their breeders
– and stud dog owners too. Every single sample
will matter hugely and the bigger the response
we get then the more hope we will have of one
day freeing our genetic pool from the scourge of
this devastating and life threatening illness.
This project has the full support and
encouragement of Sue Millson - our breed health
co-ordinator. |
