Breed distribution of SOD1 alleles previously associated with canine degenerative myelopathy.
J Vet Intern Med 2014;
28:515-21. [PMID:
24524809 PMCID:
PMC4238831 DOI:
10.1111/jvim.12317]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2013] [Revised: 12/09/2013] [Accepted: 01/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Previous reports associated 2 mutant SOD1 alleles (SOD1:c.118A and SOD1:c.52T) with degenerative myelopathy in 6 canine breeds. The distribution of these alleles in other breeds has not been reported.
Objective
To describe the distribution of SOD1:c.118A and SOD1:c.52T in 222 breeds.
Animals
DNA from 33,747 dogs was genotyped at SOD1:c.118,SOD1:c.52, or both. Spinal cord sections from 249 of these dogs were examined.
Methods
Retrospective analysis of 35,359 previously determined genotypes at SOD1:c.118G>A or SOD1:c.52A>T and prospective survey to update the clinical status of a subset of dogs from which samples were obtained with a relatively low ascertainment bias.
Results
The SOD1:c.118A allele was found in cross‐bred dogs and in 124 different canine breeds whereas the SOD1:c.52T allele was only found in Bernese Mountain Dogs. Most of the dogs with histopathologically confirmed degenerative myelopathy were SOD1:c.118A homozygotes, but 8 dogs with histopathologically confirmed degenerative myelopathy were SOD1:c.118A/G heterozygotes and had no other sequence variants in their SOD1 amino acid coding regions. The updated clinical conditions of dogs from which samples were obtained with a relatively low ascertainment bias suggest that SOD1:c.118A homozygotes are at a much higher risk of developing degenerative myelopathy than are SOD1:c.118A/G heterozygotes.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
We conclude that the SOD1:c.118A allele is widespread and common among privately owned dogs whereas the SOD1:c.52T allele is rare and appears to be limited to Bernese Mountain Dogs. We also conclude that breeding to avoid the production of SOD1:c.118A homozygotes is a rational strategy.
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