Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Genetic cause of disc calcification in Dachshunds
By Mogensen, Mette Sloth et al.·Published in The Journal of heredity·2011·Department of Basic Animal and Veterinary Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Genome-wide association study in Dachshund: identification of a major locus affecting intervertebral disc calcification.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old Dachshund was found to have multiple calcified discs in its spine, which can lead to serious back problems like herniated discs. Researchers studied the genetics of these dogs and discovered a specific area on chromosome 12 that seems to influence the risk of developing intervertebral disc calcification. This finding could help identify which Dachshunds are more likely to face these issues in the future. Understanding this genetic link may lead to better prevention and treatment options for affected dogs.
People also search for: Dachshund back problems · intervertebral disc disease in dogs · Dachshund disc calcification treatment
Abstract
Intervertebral disc calcification and herniation commonly affects Dachshund where the predisposition is caused by an early onset degenerative process resulting in disc calcification. A continuous spectrum of disc degeneration is seen within and among dog breeds, suggesting a multifactorial etiology. The number of calcified discs at 2 years of age determined by a radiographic evaluation is a good indicator of the severity of disc degeneration and thus serves as a measure for the risk of developing intervertebral disc herniation. The aim of the study was to identify genetic variants associated with intervertebral disc calcification in Dachshund through a genome-wide association (GWA) study. Based on thorough radiographic examinations, 48 cases with ≥ 6 disc calcifications or surgically treated for disc herniation and 46 controls with 0-1 disc calcifications were identified. GWA using the Illumina CanineHD BeadChip identified a locus on chromosome 12 from 36.8 to 38.6 Mb with 36 markers reaching genome-wide significance (P(genome) = 0.00001-0.026). This study suggests that a major locus on chromosome 12 harbors genetic variations affecting the development of intervertebral disc calcification in Dachshund.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21846751/