AND
HEALTH CONCERNS
emerged. Recently there has been some discussion concerning a new strain Parvo type 2c.
Scientists in Italy, Vietnam and Spain have reported in scientific literature about the new
strain. A new strain really means a genetic variant; only of its 5000 nucleotides needs to be
different than current strains. CPV-2c diffrees from CPV-2b by only nucleotide so it is
99.98% identical to CPV-2b according to Dr. Hatler. This small change allows it to survive
and affect dogs better than the old strain.
Oklahoma State University
has isolated a NEW strain of Canine Parvo Virus, named 2c Parvo from kennels and
reported it at The Western States Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. It has not appeared
in US scientific literature at this point. Until more is known, it is extremely important for you
to be diligent about your Parvo vaccination protocol. If you have struggled with Parvo in the
past it may be time to switch to another brand of vaccines and review when you are giving
the Parvo vaccine. If your vaccination protocol is working - don't change.
Diagnostic Laboratory
Hot Topics
Canine Parvovirus
- • Canine parvovirus (CPV) remains the most frequent
in the canine species (see Animal Health Update Fall
’06).
- • Of current interest at OADDL is the identification of
CPV genome. The importance of these genetic differences
in CPV is uncertain with respect to vaccination
and immunity at this time.
- • The findings may help to explain the endemic occurrence
- • Further work on this virus is planned in 2007; and
of viral product in fresh tissue along with histopathology
is recommended in “outbreak” situations.
School of Science, Food and Horticulture, University of Western Sydney, Penrith South DC,
New South Wales, Australia. m.naylor@garvan.org.au
Canine coronavirus (CCV) UWSMN-1 was originally identified from an outbreak of fatal
gastroenteritis in breeding colonies. In this report, we examined whether UWSMN-1
represents a novel divergent strain or is the result of recombination events between canine
and feline coronavirus strains. Sequencing of various regions of the spike and polymerase
genes confirms that UWSMN-1 is widely divergent from other CCV and feline coronavirus
strains. These data raise the possibility that this strain is the first member of a novel third
subtype of CCV.
PMID: 12202609 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
and assumptions about the breeds that were used in the early development of the German
Coolie, it is safe to say they are not without genetic skeletons in their closet. The breed that
most agree upon, that make up the Coolie, is the "Blue Merle Collie". Further research
indicates that the breed is a derivative from early herding breeds from the United Kingdom
such as the Scotch Collie (rough collie) though some believe that the German Coolie is a
member of the Border Collie family and known throughout the British Isles as the Blue Merle
Collie and that these dogs can still be found today in Wales, Scotland and England.
You will read on many sites that the Coolie is the most healthy dog on this planet. This may
or may not be the complete case. Depending on whom you obtain your Coolie from, this
dog may have been ancestors, such as the Border Collie, Kelpie, Australian Shepherd, and
one breeder admitted to knowing German Shepherd is in her lines. Unfortunately, with this,
comes genetic defects that are incorporated into the Coolie breed from other breeds. There
are many breeders/owners/stockmen who have chosen to ONLY breed Coolie to Coolie;
and those are commended in their efforts to keep the lines pure, for lack of a better word.
- TNS (Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome)
- CL (NCL - Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis)
- CEA/CH (Collie Eye Anomaly / Choroidal Hypoplasia)
According to the American Border Collie Association (ABCA):
The primary genetic diseases currently thought to be a problem in the breed are as follows:
- Hip Dysplasia (HD)
- Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)
- Epilepsy
Genetic diseases not considered to be a significant problem in the breed at this time:
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Elbow dysplasia
Common diseases with questionable heritable cause:
- Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)
Common diseases with no known heritable contribution:
- Focal/Multifocal Acquired Retinopathy (FMAR):
Color Related Defects:
- Deafness
Australian Working Kelpie:
- CCA (Canine Cerebellar Abiotrophy) (Thomas and Robertson) (Dr. Alan Wilton -
current research) - Hip dysplasia
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Australian Cattle Dog:
- Polioencephalomyelopathy (Abstract)
- Hip dysplasia
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Deafness
- Luxating Patella
Currently, no markers have been located specifically for the Coolie. With the possibility of
infusions of the above mentioned dog breeds - DNA tests that are specifically for these
breeds, could (might) work for the Coolie.
Some Coolie owners/breeders are under the impression that there is a DNA test that can
clear the Coolie for every single genetic disease and hip dysplasia (is an actual claim on a
website) that the canine can carry -- this is very misleading and is not true. Hip dysplasia is
not a DNA test (yet). It is a simple x-ray that is taken by a licensed Veterinarian and then
sent to the OFA for reading by three board-certified veterinary radiologists. Again, no
markers have been located specifically for the Coolie.
immune to this genetic defect.
Cerebellar Abiotrophy is strongly suspected to be an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance and affects
the cerebellum part of the brain. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that regulates the control and
coordination of movement. In this condition, cells in the cerebellum mature normally before birth, but then
deteriorate prematurely causing clinical signs associated with poor coordination and lack of balance. The
Purkinje cells in the cerebellum are primarily involved; cells in other areas of the brain may also be affected.
Symptoms of cerebellar abiotrophy (CA) include ataxia or lack of balance, an awkward wide-legged
stance, a head tremor (intention tremor) (in dogs, body tremors also occur), hyperreactivity, lack of
menace reflex, stiff or high-stepping gait, apparent lack of awareness of where the feet are (sometimes
standing or walking with a foot knuckled over), poor depth perception, and a general inability to determine
space and distance. The symptoms are, taken as a group, fairly unique and not easily mimicked by other
illnesses, though certain types of injury and infection do need to be ruled out. However, verifying the
diagnosis in terms of laboratory evidence is only possible by examining the brain post-mortem to
determine if there has been a loss of Purkinje cells.
Most affected animals have normal intelligence and mildly affected animals can, in theory, live out a normal
lifespan. However, affected animals are prone to falling and other accidents, and for this reason many
affected animals, are euthanized for humane reasons. Dogs may need lifetime assistance with tasks such
as climbing stairs, stepping up and over objects, and may fall easily.
CA cannot be prevented, other than by selective breeding to avoid the gene, and it cannot be cured. In
some dog breeds, symptoms appear to progressively worsen, but research is not consistent on this point.
There also is some evidence that affected animals learn over time to partially compensate for the
condition and appear to improve because they are less accident-prone.
Routine diagnostic tests are normal with this condition and a definitive diagnosis can only be made by
brain biopsy or on post-mortem. MRI may be helpful in dogs in which there is gross cerebellar
malformation; however generally with this condition, the cerebellum appears grossly normal.
Histopathologic abnormalities are often minimal and do not seem to correlate with the severity of
cerebellar signs.There is no treatment for this condition. Dogs do not recover from this disorder and
usually at some point (depending on the rate of the progressive deterioration that occurs), euthanasia
becomes the best option.
Dr. Alan Wilton has begun to look for a mutation in the Kelpie genome that is causing this disease.
Eventually, it is hoped that a sample of blood can be used to discern the affected, carrier and clear-of-
gene status in every dog sampled. The Working Kelpie Council (Australia) is the registry for Working
Kelpies. At the WKC October Board meeting it was agreed, in principal, that the WKC would help fund a
project to develop a "DNA Test" for Cerebellar Abiotrophy (sometimes called Ataxia) in Working Kelpies
under the stewardship of Dr Allan Wilton working at the University of NSW.
Any Kelpie owner wishing to submit samples or make a donation to keep the research going should
contact Dr. Wilton.
UPDATE: From the WKC “News Bulletin”
November 2007, No 513ATAXIA (CA) PROGRESS REPORT.
Dr Alan Wilton advises:
The cerebellar abiotrophy research is on track. Half of the 15 ataxic dogs and 15 controls have been typed
successfully for the 50,000 DNA markers and the remainder will be done before the Melbourne Cup.
Recent publications in the journal Nature Genetics show that this technique works well for as few as 10
affected and 10 controls so we are expecting to have a location for the gene in a few weeks time. Then we
need to search the disease gene region for the DNA defect that causes CA. This requires looking for one
difference in millions of bits of DNA. Since we do not know what we are looking for, it is not always a
simple task, but with luck and persistence we will be able to develop a test by early in 2008. We greatly
appreciate the support of the WKC and donations from breeders that allow us to continue this work,
especially the funding from Terry Snow that has allowed us to take the fast track and develop a test over
months instead of years.
WKC Editorial note: This progress report is very encouraging and we look forward to having the answer in
the not too distant future and to being able to guide breeders with a program to gradually eliminate the
disease from the working Kelpie breed. We take this opportunity to thank all members who have
supported with the supply of samples from affected and/or suspected affected and donations to help cover
the on going costs of the research.
As members are aware the WKC entered into a three year funding agreement with Dr Alan Wilton and the
NSW University. Under the terms of the agreement the WKC was committed to 3 annual amounts
comprising cash and in kind contributions. With Terry Snow extremely generous donation that enabled the
use of the very latest technology equipment research has been sped up and the WKC has been brought
forward and is handing over its 2008 funding commitment in advance.
Whilst we are not actually handling the receipt of donations we have nevertheless received and have
handed over $1000.00 from Swedish Working Kelpie fans, $60 from one of our American members and a
$19.00 donation from a local member. Dr Alan Wilton advised that he had received a generous donation
of over $1000.00 from a WKC breeder/member in Queensland and a number of other amounts.
Research of this nature is a very expensive process and members generally are encouraged to assist by
sending in donations, no matter how small - an investment which will be in the best interests of all who rely
on sheepdogs in the everyday management of stock.
Donations are still needed to continue this very valuable research. Any Kelpie owner wishing to submit
samples or make a donation to keep the research going should contact Dr. Wilton.
Alan Wilton
School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences
University of New south Wales
NSW 2052
Phone +61 2 9385 2019
Fax + 61 2 9385 1483
Mobile 0422 736 425
(Pseudo-rabies)
Click here to read the article
It is strongly suggested that you never feed your dog meat from feral (wild) pigs.
If you use your dogs to hunt feral hogs, you may be interested in this article.
Two short paragraphs from the article above:
"Aujeszky’s disease (pseudorabies) is a highly contagious, economically significant
disease of pigs. This viral infection causes central nervous system (CNS) signs
and high mortality rates in young animals, and respiratory illness in older pigs. Other
species may be infected when they come in contact with pigs, resulting in a universally
fatal CNS disease. Aujeszky’s disease can result in trade restrictions where it is
endemic. Eradication programs are underway or have been successful in many countries.
In the United States, all states are now considered to be free of the virus in domesticated
swine, and a surveillance program is ongoing.
The presence of the virus in feral pigs remains a concern.
Pigs are the natural host for Aujeszky’s disease virus and the only animals to become
latent carriers. However, the virus can infect nearly all domesticated and wild
mammals including cattle, sheep, goats, cats and dogs. It does not infect humans or
the tailless apes, and infections in horses are rare".