Canine Degenerative Myelopathy!
Canine degenerative myelopathy, also known as chronic degenerative radiculomyelopathy.
It is an incurable, progressive disease of the canine spinal cord
that is similar in many ways to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Onset is typically after the age of 7 years and it is seen most frequently in the
German shepherd dog, Pembroke Welsh corgi, and boxer dog.
Though the disorder is strongly associated with a gene mutation in SOD1 that has been found in 43 breeds as of 2008, including the wire fox terrier, Chesapeake Bay retriever, Rhodesian ridgeback, and Cardigan Welsh corgi.[1][2]
Progressive weakness and incoordination of the rear limbs are often the first signs
seen in affected dogs, with progression over time to complete paralysis.
Myelin is an insulating sheath around neurons in the spinal cord.
One proposed cause of degenerative myelopathy is that the immune system attacks this sheath, breaking it down.
This results in a loss of communication between nerves in lower body of the animal and the brain.
It is an incurable, progressive disease of the canine spinal cord
that is similar in many ways to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Onset is typically after the age of 7 years and it is seen most frequently in the
German shepherd dog, Pembroke Welsh corgi, and boxer dog.
Though the disorder is strongly associated with a gene mutation in SOD1 that has been found in 43 breeds as of 2008, including the wire fox terrier, Chesapeake Bay retriever, Rhodesian ridgeback, and Cardigan Welsh corgi.[1][2]
Progressive weakness and incoordination of the rear limbs are often the first signs
seen in affected dogs, with progression over time to complete paralysis.
Myelin is an insulating sheath around neurons in the spinal cord.
One proposed cause of degenerative myelopathy is that the immune system attacks this sheath, breaking it down.
This results in a loss of communication between nerves in lower body of the animal and the brain.
Animal Genetics offers DNA testing for Degenerative Myelopathy (DM).
The genetic test verifies the presence of the recessive DM mutation and presents results as one of the following:
DM/DM At Risk...The dog has inherited two copies of the mutated SOD1 gene and is homozygous for the mutation. The dog is at risk to develop the disorder during its lifetime. The dog will always pass a copy of the mutation to its offspring.
DM/nCarrier/Low Risk...Both the normal and mutant copies of the gene detected. The chances that the dog will develop the disease are very low and could pass on either allele to any offspring.
n/n Clear...Dog tested negative for the DM mutation and will not pass on the defective gene to its offspring.
http://www.animalgenetics.us/Canine/Genetic_Disease/DM.asp
The genetic test verifies the presence of the recessive DM mutation and presents results as one of the following:
DM/DM At Risk...The dog has inherited two copies of the mutated SOD1 gene and is homozygous for the mutation. The dog is at risk to develop the disorder during its lifetime. The dog will always pass a copy of the mutation to its offspring.
DM/nCarrier/Low Risk...Both the normal and mutant copies of the gene detected. The chances that the dog will develop the disease are very low and could pass on either allele to any offspring.
n/n Clear...Dog tested negative for the DM mutation and will not pass on the defective gene to its offspring.
http://www.animalgenetics.us/Canine/Genetic_Disease/DM.asp
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals...
http://www.offa.org/dnatesting/dmexplanation.html
Explanation of DM DNA Test Results
Normal (N/N)...This dog is homozygous N/N for the mutation that is the most common cause of DM, with two normal copies of the gene. Among the hundreds of dogs studied so far at the University of Missouri, only two dogs with test results of N/N (Normal) have been confirmed to have DM. The N/N (Normal) dog can only transmit the normal counterpart of the common mutation to its offspring, and it is unlikely that this dog or its offspring will ever develop DM.
Carrier (A/N)...This dog is heterozygous A/N, with one mutated copy of the gene and one normal copy of the gene, and is classified as a carrier. Carriers are far less likely to develop DM, but we have confirmed DM in a few carrier dogs. They may be used carefully in breeding programs to keep their good qualities while reducing risk of DM in future generations.
At-Risk (A/A)..This dog is homozygous A/A, with two mutated copies of the gene, and is at risk for developing Degenerative Myelopathy (DM). Although almost all dogs in the research study with confirmed DM have had A/A DNA test results, recent evidence suggest that there are other causes of DM in some breeds. In addition, not all dogs testing as A/A have shown clinical signs of DM. DM is typically a late onset disease, and dogs testing as A/A that are clinically normal may still begin to show signs of the disease as they age. Some dogs testing A/A did not begin to show clinical signs of DM until they were 15 years of age. Research is ongoing to estimate what percentage of dogs testing as A/A will develop DM within their lifespan. At this point, the mutation can only be interpreted as being at risk of developing DM within the animal's life. For dogs showing clinical signs with a presumptive diagnosis of DM, affected (A/A) test results can be used as an additional tool to aid in the diagnosis of DM. Dogs testing At-Risk (A/A) can only pass the mutated gene on to their offspring.
Equivocal...An Equivocal test result indicates that the test results were inconclusive. This is typically the result of poor sample collection. When the test yields an equivocal result, a second punch will be taken from the FTA card and the test rerun. If the second test is still equivocal, the owner will be contacted and asked to submit a new sample.
http://www.offa.org/dnatesting/dmexplanation.html
Explanation of DM DNA Test Results
Normal (N/N)...This dog is homozygous N/N for the mutation that is the most common cause of DM, with two normal copies of the gene. Among the hundreds of dogs studied so far at the University of Missouri, only two dogs with test results of N/N (Normal) have been confirmed to have DM. The N/N (Normal) dog can only transmit the normal counterpart of the common mutation to its offspring, and it is unlikely that this dog or its offspring will ever develop DM.
Carrier (A/N)...This dog is heterozygous A/N, with one mutated copy of the gene and one normal copy of the gene, and is classified as a carrier. Carriers are far less likely to develop DM, but we have confirmed DM in a few carrier dogs. They may be used carefully in breeding programs to keep their good qualities while reducing risk of DM in future generations.
At-Risk (A/A)..This dog is homozygous A/A, with two mutated copies of the gene, and is at risk for developing Degenerative Myelopathy (DM). Although almost all dogs in the research study with confirmed DM have had A/A DNA test results, recent evidence suggest that there are other causes of DM in some breeds. In addition, not all dogs testing as A/A have shown clinical signs of DM. DM is typically a late onset disease, and dogs testing as A/A that are clinically normal may still begin to show signs of the disease as they age. Some dogs testing A/A did not begin to show clinical signs of DM until they were 15 years of age. Research is ongoing to estimate what percentage of dogs testing as A/A will develop DM within their lifespan. At this point, the mutation can only be interpreted as being at risk of developing DM within the animal's life. For dogs showing clinical signs with a presumptive diagnosis of DM, affected (A/A) test results can be used as an additional tool to aid in the diagnosis of DM. Dogs testing At-Risk (A/A) can only pass the mutated gene on to their offspring.
Equivocal...An Equivocal test result indicates that the test results were inconclusive. This is typically the result of poor sample collection. When the test yields an equivocal result, a second punch will be taken from the FTA card and the test rerun. If the second test is still equivocal, the owner will be contacted and asked to submit a new sample.