Health Owner Breeder Survey (Dr. Jim Hulbert) All sections of the 2005 Health Survey were analyzed and available to the membership by end of January 2007. The CTCA Health Survey, to be conducted in 2010, has a new partner. The CTCA HRCC voted to plan a joint U.S.-Canada Survey and the Cairn Terrier Club of Canada (CTCC) in August of 2007 approved the collaboration. The project will be led by the Health Surveys of both clubs. There will be a report generated by the Survey similar to that based on Health Survey 2005, but it will provide information about the purebred Cairn Terriers of both the U.S. and Canada. The rationale for the collaboration is to sample a greater number of owners of purebred Cairn Terriers and thereby describe more accurately, the successes and challenges associated with ownership of these dear friends of ours. Survey finding might generate new initiatives, or might strengthen existing ones, helping owners to maintain the health of their Cairns for a long as possible We solicit the views of all CTCA and CTCC members to help guide the development of the next member survey. Our emerging plans are to make the survey shorter than the 2005 survey and focused on health screening and reported health conditions. As was done for the 2005 survey, the 2010 survey will use double envelope mailings to eliminate any owner-identifying information.
Portosystemic Vascular Anomaly (PSVA) and Microvascular Dysplsaia (MVD) – formerly referred to as Portosystemic Shunt (PSS) (Clare Redditt): The project continues under Dr. Sharon Center at Cornell University. Dr. Center submitted a proposal summary for a research grant from the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) in Spring 2007 and made the first cut to submit a full research proposal. The AKC CHF votes on all the full proposals in September 2007 and decides which research projects they will fund in 2008. Dr. Center also came gave a general talk on PSVA + MVD at the Roving Specialty in February 2007, in San Jose, CA. For a summary of her talk, please go to 2007_02_Center_Summary. No additional progress will be made on this project until she knows if this project will be funded by the AKC CHF. Assuming approval by the AKC CHF, they will solicit at least fourteen breed clubs, including the CTCA, to contribute partial funding which will be matched by the AKC CHF funds. The CTCA currently has $11,961 in our donor advised fund (DAF) to be applied to other AKC CHF research projects (now or in the future). See CMO update below. Dr. Center will also give another talk on PSVA + MVD during Education Day on Friday, October 5th at 1:00 pm during our national specialty. All are encouraged to attend!
CMO: (Vicki Havlik) Vickie Havlik accepted the coordinator position in February 2007. In June 2007 Dr. Patrick J. Venta, Michigan State University submitted a final report of his scientific progress on Grant No. 600. The full report, as received by the AKC CHF in late August 2007 is attached. Not all the co-funding money received from the three breed clubs (Cairns, Scotties and Westies) was used so $2,000 was refunded to the CTCA Donor Advised Funds (DAF) account to be applied to other AKC CHF research projects (now or in the future).
Ocular Melanosis (OM) (Linda Heiner) This condition continues to be investigated for a genetic marker by Dr. Simon Petersen-Jones, Michigan State University, and to be supported by the CTCA Foundation. In Spring 2007, Dr. PJ applied for an "ACORN" grant with the AKC CHF which is a smaller grant ($12,000 or less) that are primarily for start-up research and it was approved and funded. The first report on this grant is expected in September 2007. 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. Speaking from experience, this is a difficult decision and thing to do, but so vital to the future ocular health of our dogs.
Eye and Skin (Linda Heiner) Eye: 1 inquiry on a 15 year old dog with recently diagnosed OM that had progressed to glaucoma in both eyes and was blind in one eye. General Vet thought dog had “cataracts”. Skin: 6 inquiries (hot spots 1, itching pulling out hair/sores 2, skin allergies 1, mange 1, black headed pimples 1).
Renal Dysplasia/Aplasia: (Joyce Adams-Taylor and Devon Allen) Dr. James Rhodes at the University of Pennsylvania is now the contact person for this condition and Joyce is the contact person with him. Dr Rhodes continues to work on gathering cases of Renal Dysplasia and data pertaining to Renal Dysplasia. He currently has three definitively diagnosed cases of Renal Dysplasia in Cairn Terriers. Three more RD suspect puppies are due to be diagnosed by surgical biopsy in late August/early September. Dr Rhodes’ recommendation to Cairn Terrier breeders is: be viligent in diagnostic screening such as ultrasound scanning of litters. He states that if we can get the word out and have more breeders checking their litters, we may be able to uncover more of a pattern and thus have an easier time characterizing renal dysplasias. Dr. Rhodes is not sure if we are dealing with more than one type of renal dysplasia at this time.
Dr. Urs Giger, section chief of Medical Genetics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine has helped prepare statements for other breed clubs interested in new genetic tests for RD: “As with many seemingly heritable diseases, RD does not seem to be a simple trait with complete penetrance; there may be more than one mutation involved as seen
with other diseases in different breeds. Furthermore, the disease expression seems rather variable which may suggest the involvement of modifying genes and environmental factors. New genetic tests claiming to test for carriers, while exciting, are still in the validation phase and hence should not be generally recommended to control RD. Surveys and correlation to renal pathology are required to confirm the DNA test results unless they have been done and are shared with the community.
Recent genetic testing revealed 24 dogs that were ultrasounded normal or renal dysplasia suspect from several distinct lines to be "carriers" for renal dysplasia. This illustrates the difficulty of interpreting these results. Because of this, ultrasound diagnosis at 16 weeks of age by a board certified radiologist may be the best screening tool at this time.” Devon Allen confirmed from an email from Vet Gen, that in the past they did offer a linked marker test for RD in 3 breeds. It was not offered for Cairns. At this time the test has been withdrawn and put back into research in hopes of locating the actual mutation that causes the disease.
Health (Genetic) Manual: (Cheri Eagleson): A few members have asked for copies of the last version of this manual (which continue to be available) but a major update and revision is planned to be made in 2008.
Heart and Gastrointestinal Diseases (Laurel Harpel): Laurel Harpel, DVM accepted to be the coordinator for these areas in February 2007. No inquiries.
Orthopedic (Kydee Sheetz): No update.
Cancer (Beth Wilder Wilson): No inquiries.
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, Clare Redditt, Beth Wilson,
