We have an update from Breed Health Co-ordinator Professor Steve Dean BVetMed, MRCVS, DVR on news from the Animal Health Trust.
Shaking Puppy Syndrome – Sequencing Begins
I am pleased to pass on the below information just received from the Animal Health Trust about the Give a Dog a Genome Project and work being done there on SPS.
This is good news and comes as a result of the action by the seven Border Terrier breed clubs who, working with the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, have contributed the funds to enable this to take place. This is just the beginning of the scientific work that could take some time, but needs to be carried out if we are to find a way of eliminating this problem in the breed.”
From the Animal Health Trust:
"As you already know, we selected a Border Terrier with “Shaking puppy syndrome” to be whole genome sequenced as part of Give a Dog a Genome (GDG). A DNA sample from a suitable dog has now been sent to a commercial laboratory for sequencing.
What happens next?
The sequencing is expected to take up to 8 weeks to complete, after which the data will be made available to us to download, process and analyse. The volume of data generated for each individual sample is extremely large and takes 3-4 days to download and process. The sequence data may also be shared with other scientists as we deem necessary or helpful. Additional analysis of the data to attempt to identify any variants that contribute to “Shaking puppy syndrome” will take far longer. Please be aware that it is entirely possible that we will not be able to identify any variants that contribute to this condition. However, even if this is the case, the data still can and will be used in investigations of inherited disease in other breeds.
You will continue to receive any general GDG updates, but apart from that we will contact you only if there is something specific to the Border Terrier to report. I would once again like to thank you and the breed community for participating in Give a Dog a Genome.
If you have any questions or concerns please email me on gdg@aht.org.uk.
Yours faithfully,
Louise and the rest of the Give a Dog a Genome Team”
