DNA study for cancer and epilepsy

The Animal Health Trust are requesting DNA samples (done by a simple cheek swab) to help research into certain health problems within the breed.


Unaffected dogs over 7 years

Schnauzers with epilepsy

Schnauzers with cancer of toe, mouth or skin.


You can either go through the breed clubs to do this or contact the Animal Health Trust directly, which is probably the easiest way to do it and will keep things anonymous, if you are bothered about that.


I have just recieved a test kit for Tara, as she fits into the unaffected over 7 years category.

The kit includes 2 cheek swabs and a form to fill in


The swab, looks a bit like a mascara brush


the air dry and pop into this envelope


How easy is that? So if you have a suitable dog for the study, help out!




Mike Starkey has sent me this article
The Animal Health Trust (AHT; http://www.aht.org.uk/) is a charity, and a research institute, that has been helping dogs, cats and horses for more than half a century. The AHT provides specialist veterinary clinical, diagnostic and surgical services, and is dedicated to the study of canine, equine and feline diseases.

The AHT Oncology Research Group needs the help of Schnauzer owners and breeders to collect samples for a project seeking to identify one, or more, inherited genetic mutations that are responsible for Schnauzers having an increased risk of developing melanomas. The research is a collaborative project involving scientists from 6 centres in 4 countries, and is part of the European Union-funded LUPA project (http://www.eurolupa.org/), a 4-year initiative involving 20 veterinary schools from 12 European countries.

Melanomas are about 4% of all tumours in dogs, and arise from cells (containing the pigment melanin) that occur in the skin (‘cutaneous melanoma’), in the mouth (‘oral melanoma’), under toe nails (‘ungual melanoma’), and in the eye (‘ocular/uveal melanoma’). The tumours can occur in dogs of any age, but are most common in dogs of over 9 years old. The severity of a melanoma depends upon location, and >55% of cutaneous melanomas are benign. Oral melanomas are most likely to spread (to the lymph nodes and lungs). Surgery and radiotherapy (when surgery is not possible) are effective treatment options when a melanoma has not spread. Chemotherapy is not an effective therapy for tumours that have spread. A DNA vaccine to protect against melanoma has been undergoing safety trials at several centres in the United States. The DNA vaccine is designed to stimulate production of antibodies against a protein involved in the synthesis of melanin.

While melanomas occur rarely in many dog breeds, a number of breeds develop these cancers more often, suggesting that some dogs belonging to these breeds carry inherited genetic risk factors. Schnauzers are one of several breeds that appear to have an increased risk of developing cutaneous melanomas.

In the long term, it is hoped that the research to identify the one, or more, inherited genetic mutations will lead to the development of tests to identify dogs that carry the gene mutations conferring an increased risk. This information will be useful to vets as it will identify dogs who may benefit from careful monitoring for early detection of cancer, and thereby early treatment. These tests will also assist breeders to reduce the incidence of dogs affected with these cancers. The research will also increase understanding of how these tumours develop, ultimately assisting the development of new therapies.

Dr. Mike Starkey
Oncology Research Group
May 2009


Schnauzer owners can help this project as follows:

A). If your dog has a suspected melanoma:

· If your vet is taking a blood sample for a clinical reason, ask the vet to save a surplus sample (1-2ml) in an EDTA tube
OR
Contact the AHT (contact details below) to request a cheek swab kit

· Ask your vet to collect a small piece (3-5mm cube) of the biopsy of the suspected tumour (normally removed for diagnostic histopathology) and send it to the AHT

- If you have advance notice of your vet removing a biopsy, contact
the AHT (contact details below) to ask for a special preservative
(‘RNAlater’), in which to collect the small piece of tissue, to be sent to
the vet
OR
- Ask your vet to place a small piece of the biopsy of the suspected
tumour in a freezer, and then ask the vet to contact the AHT
(contact details below) to ask to be sent a special solvent (‘QIAzol’)
in which to transport the piece of tissue

B). If your dog does not have cancer (and has not had cancer) and is at least
7 years old:

· If your vet is taking a blood sample for a clinical reason, ask the vet to save a surplus sample (1-2ml) in an EDTA tube
OR
Contact the AHT (contact details below) to request a cheek swab kit

· Please let us know if your dog develops cancer within the next 4 years


For any queries or more information about the project, please contact:
Dr. Mike Starkey (Tel: 01638 555603; E-mail: mike.starkey@aht.org.uk; Website: http://www.aht.org.uk/science_oncology.html).

To submit a blood sample, or request a cheek swab kit and/or an RNAlater/QIAzol sample tube (for a tumour biopsy), please contact: Lisa Jeffery (Tel: 01638 751000, extension 1214; E-mail: lisa.jeffery@aht.org.uk).



Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 7UU, UK.
Website: http://www.aht.org.uk/

I just want to point out that this study is for ALL 3 SIZES of schnauzer, so if you have a suitable Miniature, Standard or Giant Schnauzer, then you can help this study.

Thanks for reading!

I am so glad to see that this is taken place I do not have schnauzer that does fit the profile but this is indeed matter that needs to be done. I surely hope that people that have schnauzers that fit to the studies send DNA

It is such a simple thing for anyone to do. I hope anyone on this forum with a suitable dog will help out.

All 3 sizes of schnauzer can assist in this research!

Jo since there are much bigger number of breeders and owners of schnauzer then are in this forum do you think it would be wise to e -mail to breeders according to the list on schnauzer page f.exp.

I think this really needs to be done. As well a reminder of the DNA for eye sickness.

That's not something I have the time to do. I do know that more people read this forum then are members, between those and the members on here, I would hope the word will spread about this and the eye DNA.

Hi,
This is great news that they are looking into these deceases.

I know there is an eye test available for hereditary cataracts for all of us to use.

My question is there a test for epilepsy?

Steffi Baumann has been in touch with the Animal Health Tust and the University of Helsinki regarding a research study on genetic mode of epilepsy in dogs.

The UoH (University of Helsinki) is currently conducting a big research study on different breeds of dogs regarding the mode of inheritance/ genetics of epilepsy. They would be very interested to add the Giant Schnauzer to the study if they receive enough samples.
This is our chance to react and participate.

As the UoH prefers blood samples, due to quality reasons of the DNA samples, wich is resticted in the UK we have to resort to cheek swaps. The AHT has offered to extract DNA from the swaps and forward the information the UoH. The UoH will send forms which should be filled out by the participating owners/ breeders and returned the UoH.

We would also like to involve the other Schnauzer Clubs (not only in this country) that care for the Giant Schnauzer as the more people involved the more people we will reach. The more samples we can get the better.

We hope that many breeders will become involved in this research for the benefit of the Schnauzers.

Norma

It's great that these studies are going on to help treat/cure/prevent such things in our dogs

My friend's giant schnauzer should really have a check up. The dog has seizures these past weeks.