Plans for 2010 Health Owner Breeder Survey (Dr. Jim Hulbert)
The Health Survey 2010 committees of both Canada and the United States have been reviewing the surveys of other national breed clubs, including the report graciously shared by the Swedish Cairn Club. We are also grateful to Joan Blackstaffe, president of the Cairn Terrier Club of Canada (CTCC), for her continuing suggestions of websites to review and her general enthusiasm for the two-nation collaborative Health Survey 2010 project. Communication between the survey committees of the two countries will be made easier because at least one member, Jim Hulbert, is a member of both the Canadian and US committees.
Portosystemic Vascular Anomaly (PSVA) and Microvascular Dysplsaia (MVD) – formerly referred to as Portosystemic Shunt (PSS) (Becky Stamps): Becky Stamps is now the Coordinator for these two conditions, taking over from Clare Redditt who is was appointed as a trustee for the CTCA Foundation in October 2007. The project continues under Dr. Sharon Center at Cornell University. Dr. Centers 2 year research proposal was approved for funding by the AKC CHF this year and the contract was signed in June 2008. This project is supported in part by the CTCA Foundation and funding will be contributed by the CTCA, Cairn Terrier Club of Canada and other non-Cairn breed clubs. Dr. Center also gave another talk on PSVA + MVD during Education Day on Friday, October 5th during our 2007 national specialty. You can also listen to a very short (less than 15 minutes) interview that Dr. Center gave talking about these conditions on a new podcast from the AKC CHF. The link to the podcast (audio only) is http://www.akc-akcchf.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=312424
Goal: By October 2008 to update the HRCC section of the CTCA website to briefly describe PSVA and MVD.
CMO: (Vicki Havlik) One contact regarding a CMO case in regards to the drugs being used.
Ocular Melanosis (OM) (Linda Heiner) Dr. Simon Petersen-Jones ACORN grant was approved and funded by the AKC CHF late in 2007 and reports on the research come in every 6 months and are reported in the CTCA newsletter. This project is 75% completed and he has, to date, excluded 4 of the 11 candidate genes as being negative.
In Spring 2008 Dr. Simon Petersen-Jones made a pre-proposal to to the AKC CHF to continue research in this area and he was selected to make a full proposal which was completed in May 2008. The proposal is for a 2 year project. If funded, and the remaining candidate genes do not provide data, this research will focus on complete genome analysis to identify genomic loci of interested to help select candidate genes. It will be partially funded by the CTCA Foundation. Projected cost over two years: $73,681. Attached is the science summary and lay abstract. It is expected that it will be reviewed by the AKC CHF in the Fall of 2008
Blood samples, eye exam results and pedigrees on dogs with OM or who are related to dogs with OM continue to be collected by Dr. PJ. Especially needed are any eyes removed due to OM for this research.
Skin (Linda Heiner) 7 inquiries (one each) for “bumps along spinal column”, “pulling out hair on rear end and tail”, “scratching and irritated red wounds”, “crusty black sores on hind legs”, “licking hair off legs”, “oily hair”, and “skin allergy.”
Renal Dysplasia/Aplasia: (Joyce Adams-Taylor and Devon Allen) Dr. James Rhodes at the University of Pennsylvania would like to re-ultrasound 5 Cairns to see if there have been any changes since their last ultrasounds. On July 1, 2008 Dr. Rhodes will be moving to another department and a new resident veterinary researcher (breeder of Portugese Water Dogs) will be assigned to the Renal Unit at the University of Pennsylvania. This resident researcher will be approached to talk about Renal Dysplasia/Aplasia at Education Day in October 2008.
Despite all other reports of a lab test to detect dogs affected by RD or RA, ultrasound diagnosis at 16 weeks of age by a board certified radiologist is still the best screening tool at this time.
Health (Genetic) Manual: (Cheri Eagleson): No update
Heart and Gastrointestinal Diseases (Laurel Harpel): No Update
Orthopedic (Kydee Sheetz): No update.
Cancer (Beth Wilder Wilson) One inquiry.
Orthopedic Foundation of America/Canine Health Informatin Center (OFA/CHIC) (Joan Eastman) There is continued interest in the CTCA participating in this program. In her conversations with OFA, they advise us to select 3 or 4 baseline tests to start the process. The information for participation in the program is on the OFA website at http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/chicinfo.html The mission of CHIC is to provide a source of health information for owners, breeders, and scientists, that will assist in breeding healthy dogs. Two clubs have contacted Joan for information on how to set up multiple heath testing clinics to be held in conjunction with their shows since October 2007 and a review of the CTCA newsletter clearly shows that many more regional clubs are sponsoring a variety of health testing clinics.
HRCC Goals for 2008
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Heiner, Chair
Members: Devon Allen, Joyce Adams-Taylor, Kevin Durkin, Joan Eastman, R.N., Vicki Havlik, Laura Harpel, DVM, Dr. Jim Hulbert Ph.D., Linda Heiner, R.N., Dr. Kydee Sheetz, Cheri Eagleson, Becky Stamps, Beth Wilson, Jackie Sowards
Attachments:
OM Proposal (science summary and lay abstract) from Dr. Petersen-Jones submitted to AKC CHF in May 2008
