SCOA Supports New Epilepsy Study
Support the study with funding and/or canine DNA samples
As many of you may be aware, the Animal Health Trust in the UK which developed our Cerebellar Ataxia (CA) test, lost their funding some time back. Please see this link for more information about this.
The Kennel Club Genetic Center under the leadership of Dr. Cathryn Mellersh reopened at the University of Cambridge in the UK and have continued their canine health research projects through the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Canine Genetics Centre. They are currently working on an Idiopathic Epilepsy study which includes the Spinone.
Cambridge has reached out to us asking for assistance with funding to keep this research going. We are excited to announce that SCOA has donated $4,000 USD from the Lena Amirian Fund to this organization which will be specifically earmarked for the Spinoni epilepsy study which is ongoing. Additionally, the Health and Rescue Foundation of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America has donated matching funds, so our $4,000 actually brought in $8,000 for this project. The PBGV Club of America will continue to match donated funds until they reach $10,000. If you would like to contribute funds to the Cambridge CGC to take advantage of this matching offer, please visit the PBGV fundraising page for details.
Cambridge will be keeping us apprised of any developments that may come from this research. Currently, Dr. Cathryn Mellersh wrote the following about a paper which has recently been submitted for peer review:
“The CGC has been investigating epilepsy in the Spinone for many years now and have recently submitted a paper detailing our preliminary findings for peer review. Essentially, our work so far has demonstrated that epilepsy in the Spinone is a complex disease and being able to develop a genetic breeding tool will be challenging. However, epilepsy remains a focus of the CGC’s research, and we are committed to gaining a better understanding of the underlying genetics with time.”
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
2) Donate via the Cambridge page.
3) If you have a Spinone which has been professionally diagnosed with Idiopathic Epilepsy, please contact Karen Moodie, DVM (our own SCOA member/Vet) Moodie.Karen@gmail.com to obtain a swab kit. You will be asked to provide cheek swab samples from your affected dog, and you will be provided with a link to a questionnaire that you will need to complete and provide with the sample. If you have any questions about the questionnaire, Karen can help you with that.
4) If you have a Spinone which is age 7 or older who has never had a seizure of any kind – we need your samples!!! Again, please contact Karen Moodie, DVM at Moodie.Karen@gmail.com and she will send you a sample and link to the questionnaire.
The Cambridge CGC is asking for samples from twenty different dogs - both affected (10 dogs) and unaffected (10 dogs) Spinoni – to assist with their research. When you have completed your swabs and questionnaire you can send them back to Karen Moodie and she will get them mailed overseas – there are Customs issues, etc. that she is well versed in and so it is easier for her to send a “batch” of samples all together rather than each of you sending them individually, although if you prefer to do that, please just let her know.
Questions? Please feel free to contact us at: Health@SpinoneClubofAmerica.com
Thank you,
Your SCOA Health Committee
Sue Acquistapace, Chair
Karen Moodie, DVM
Nikki Davis
Kay McLeland
Julie Whaley
Karen Beyer
Ann Bagnell – SCOA Board Liaison