Dr. Hess at the University of Pennsylvania has received full approval of her grant 610 from CHF and AKC. ATCA was asked to help support this research financially as well as with Aussie DNA samples (please see financial update at the end of this document). Her research will search for genes associated with increased risk for diabetes. She states… "Early genetic identification of carriers and dogs that are likely to develop diabetes will enable breeders to determine which dogs are not fit for breeding with one another, years before clinical signs of diabetes develops"
She wants samples from non-affecteds as well as affecteds and has two surveys that must be completed, one for non-affecteds and the other for affecteds. She also states that samples from non-affecteds must come from dogs at least seven years old and the older the better. This is because the disease is usually late onset and the older the non-affected dog is, the higher the odds that the sample is from a dog that is truly non-affected and who does not carry any genetic risk.
As of May 2006 we have 13 affected samples and 40 unaffected samples, which puts us at 1/3 of what we need for Dr. Hess to begin her research. Dr Hess can be contacted at
Department of Clinical Studies-Philadelphia
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
3900 Delancey Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6010
Voice mail: (215) 898-9427
Fax:(215) 573-6050
e-mail: rhess@vet.upenn.edu
Thyroiditis, Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia & Diabetes:
Dr Wayne Potts at the University of Utah is currently working on research which focuses on finding specific alleles located in the Major Histocompatibility Complex that govern the immune system. This complex plays a role in diseases such as diabetes, autoimmune thyroiditis, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. A dog cannot get diabetes without these alleles present. If they are present, the dog, even though it may not get diabetes due to lack of a trigger (such as steroids or obesity) is genetically predisposed for the disease. As of our last update in December 2005 Dr Potts had filed for an extension to help him collect samples from the other breeds. Our club had already donated all of the samples requested from us. He was hoping to obtain samples from another research laboratory to help speed up the process.
He is hoping to develop DNA tests for diagnosing the diseases prior to onset of symptoms and to provide a screening test for breeders. He is seeking samples from purebred dogs affected with any of these three diseases.
University of Utah
Wayne K. Potts
801 585-9677
potts@biology.utah.edu