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Behavior
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Project:
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UPenn's Canine Behavior and Genetics Project |
| Goal: |
Among others, to identify the gene(s) responsible
for noise phobia and noise reactivity in Australian shepherds. A separate
but related study seeks to identify characteristics and genes associated
with outstanding performance in working dogs
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| Conducted by: |
Karen L. Overall, MA, VMD, PhD, Diplomate ACVB
University of Pennsylvania
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Samples needed from purebred Australian shepherds,
both affected and unaffected by noise reactivity/phobia. Related individuals
are particularly helpful in this study.
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Sample type:
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blood sample (about 6 mls) |
| Other requirements: |
Pedigree
Willingness to fill out one short and one detailed questionnaire and
send them back to us. (Without these, the blood sample loses 50% of
its value)
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| Contact: |
Donna Dyer
University of Pennsylvania
Center for Neurobiology and Behavior - Psychiatry Dept. - Penn Med
Translation Research Laboratory - 125 S. 31th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104 .7051 USA
dyerdj@mail.med.upenn.edu
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| Cancer
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Project:
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Canine Soft Tissue Sarcomas |
| Goal: |
To identify genes responsible for causing hemangiosarcoma,
lymphoma and soft tissue sarcomas in dogs.
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| Conducted by: |
Matthew Breen, PhD
North Carolina State University
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| Samples needed from: |
Purebred Australian Shepherds with hemangiosarcoma,
lymphoma, soft-tissue sarcoma, or histiocytic malignancy. Samples
from certain relatives of affected dogs are also desired. Tissues
from other types of cancers will be accepted and banked for future
research.
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| Sample type: |
Tissue or blood
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IMPORTANT: There are very specific requirements for
sample submission to his study. Please contact the Breed Study Liaison
(below) if you wish to contribute samples.
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Other requirements:
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Submission forms (provided by the Breed Study Liaison)
Pedigree
Tumor or other pathology reports on affected dogs
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| Contact: |
Kim Monti, Breed Study Liaison
4aussies_16paws@foxwoodkennel.com
505-890-6150
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| Dr. Breen's website - study participation.
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ASHGI has partnered with the AKC Canine
Health Foundation to fund this research.
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Cataracts
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Goal:
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To identify additional genes responsible for causing cataracts in
Australian Shepherds. |
| Conducted by: |
Catherine Mellersh, PhD
Animal Health Trust (AHT)
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Samples needed from purebred Australian Shepherds with ANY kind of
cataract.
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| Sample type: |
Cheek swabs
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| Other requirements: |
Submission forms (provided by AHT)
Pedigree
CERF form or equivalent diagnostic report
Mailing of completed packets to England
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| Contact: |
Symone Ingram
Animal Health Trust (AHT)
Lanwades Park, Kentford
Newmarket, Suffolk CbK 7UU
United Kingdom
symone.ingram@aht.org.uk
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| Epilepsy |
(2 studies)
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| Project: |
Canine Epilepsy
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| Goal: |
To identify genes responsible for causing epilepsy
in various breeds of dog, including the Australian Shepherd, and develop
a DNA screening test.
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| Conducted by: |
Dr.Ned E. Patterson
Canine Epilepsy Network
University of Minnesota
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| Samples needed from purebred Australian Shepherds: |
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- Dogs affected with epilepsy
- Relatives of affected dogs within two generations
- Normal dogs 6 years of age or older
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| Sample type: |
Whole blood in EDTA tubes.
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| Sample submission forms and seizure survey: |
University
of Minnesota Main Page |
| Contact: |
Katie Minor
Neuromuscular Genetics Lab
University of Minnesota
C339 Veterinary Teaching Hospitals
1352 Boyd Ave.
St. Paul MN 55108
612-624-5322
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If you are in Europe, please contact
Hannes Lohi at the University of Helsinki. He is collaborating with
Dr. Patterson on this study.
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ASHGI has partnered with the AKC Canine Health
Foundation, Toby's Foundation, the United States Australian Shepherd
Association and the United States Australian Shepherd Foundation to
fund this project.
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| Project: |
Effects of MDR1 on Anti-seizure Med Effectiveness
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| Goal: |
To determine whether the MDR1 mutation makes epileptic
dogs less responsive to seizure control medications.
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| Conducted by: |
Karen Munana, PhD
North Carolina State University
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Samples needed from purebred Australian
Shepherds with epilepsy who are receiving anti-seizure medications.
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| Sample type: |
Cheek swabs and a blood sample
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| Contact: |
Julie Osborne, Study Coordinator
Julie_Osborne@ncsu.edu
919-513-6812
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Exercise-Induced Collapse
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| Goal: |
To identify genes responsible for causing EIC in Australian
Shepherds and Border Collies and develop a DNA screening test.
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| Conducted by: |
Ned E. Patterson, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM
University of Minnesota
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Samples needed from purebred Australian
Shepherds and Border Collies that have exhibited an episode of collapse
during exercise.
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| Sample type: |
blood preferred
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| Other requirements: |
Completed questionnaire (provided by UMinn)
Pedigree
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| Contact: |
Eva Furrow, VMD
University of Minnesota
C339 Veterinary Teaching Hospitals
1352 Boyd Ave.
St. Paul MN 55108
612-624-5322
furro004@umn.edu
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Hypothyroidism
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| Project: |
Hypothyroidism and owner-directed aggressive behavior
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| Goal: |
To conclusively establish whether thyroid replacement
treatment is helpful in treating behavior problems.
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| Conducted by: |
Nicholas Dodman, RVMS
Linda P. Aronson, DVM
Tufts University
W. Jean Dodds, DVM
Hemopet/Hemolife Laboratories
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Samples needed from dogs that exhibit
owner-directed aggression and have low, or borderline-low, thyroid
hormone levels. If your dog meets the behavioral criteria but no thyroid
test has been done, the researchers may provide one free of charge.
Dogs do not need to live near Tufts if the local veterinarian will
assist in the study.
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| Contact: |
Nicole Cottam
Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
508 887-4802 Nicole.cottam@tufts.edu
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Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis
(NCL)
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| Goal: |
To determine whether previously identified mutations
causing NCL, a lethal neurological disorder featuring severe seizures,
are present in the Australian Shepherd.
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| Conducted by: |
Martin Katz
University of Missouri
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Samples needed from:
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- Purebred Australian Shepherds diagnosed with or exhibiting signs
typical of NCL (early-onset intractable seizures sometimes accompanied
by behavioral changes or blindness.)
- Parents and full or half siblings of NCL affected dogs.
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Sample type:
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- From living affected dogs and their relatives – blood
- From deceased NCL dogs – brain tissue sample
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| Contact: |
Martin Katz, PhD
KatzM@health.missouri.edu
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For more information about NCL see: http://www.caninegeneticdiseases.net/CL_site/mainCL.htm
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