A large deletion in the GP9 gene in Cocker Spaniel dogs with Bernard-Soulier syndrome

Point-of-care platelet function testing results in a dog with Bernard-Soulier syndrome

Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS), also known as hemorrhagiparous thrombocytic dystrophy (OMIA 002207-9615), is a rare defect in platelet function recognized in both dogs and humans. It is caused by a deficiency in glycoprotein 1b-IX-V, the platelet surface protein which acts as a receptor for the von Willebrand factor. The characteristic features of BSS in humans and dogs include macrothrombocytes and mild-to-moderate thrombocytopenia with a bleeding tendency. This condition has previously been reported in European Cocker Spaniel dogs; however, the results of platelet function tests in these animals have not been reported. This case report describes a European Cocker Spaniel dog with spontaneously occurring Bernard-Soulier syndrome and the results of point-of-care platelet function tests, including a prolonged buccal mucosal bleeding time (>8 min), prolongation (>300 s) of PFA-200 COL/ADP, COL/EPI, and P2Y closure times, and reduced aggregation (15%-48%) with Plateletworks ADP, but with normal aggregation (92%) with Plateletworks AA. This is the first description of the results of platelet function tests in canine Bernard-Soulier syndrome.

One Health: Animal Models of Heritable Human Bleeding Diseases

Animal models of human and animal diseases have long been used as the lynchpin of experimental and clinical research. With the discovery and implementation of novel molecular and nano-technologies, cellular research now has advanced to assessing signal transduction pathways, gene editing, and gene therapies. The contribution of heritable animal models to human and animal health as related to hemostasis is reviewed and updated with the advent of gene editing, recombinant and gene therapies.

A large deletion in the Plasminogen gene is associated with ligneous membranitis in a Maltese dog

Ligneous membranitis/conjunctivitis (LM, OMIM 217090) is a hereditary disorder caused by a congenital plasminogen (PLG) deficiency. In veterinary medicine, LM (OMIA 002020‐9615) has rarely been reported in Golden Retrievers, Yorkshire Terriers, Doberman Pinschers and Scottish Terriers. In the latter breed, an A>T variation in an intron donor site of the PLG gene (PLG, c.1256+2T>A) has been found to be the sole causative molecular defect reported to date in dogs. Owing to the absence of plasmin enzymatic clearance which in turn depends on the lack of its proenzyme plasminogen, fibrin deposits tend to accumulate in viscous membranes on the eyes, triggering and sustaining an intense inflammatory response. A case of LM was diagnosed in a 7‐month‐old male Maltese dog. The dog was examined for severe recurrent conjunctivitis. A diagnosis of ligneous conjunctivitis was made by an ophthalmologist after a thorough eye examination and was confirmed by a complete lack of plasma activity of plasminogen. The main local signs were redness of the conjunctiva with persistent membranes having ligneous (wood‐like) membranes on the eyes. The disease was associated with a complex rearrangement involving the plasminogen gene loci, causing the complete deletion of exon 1. This study provides a spontaneous animal model for LM associated with complete plasminogen deficiency and provides a method for detecting affected or carrier dogs.