2017 Breed Health Report
The past year has been dominated by scientific scrutiny of data relating to Spongiform Leuco-Encephalo-Myelopathy (SLEM) and the eventual launch of a genetic test. The test can be used to determine the status of individual Border Terriers and is a valuable tool for breeders. It permits breeders to select mating pairs to avoid producing puppies clinically affected by SLEM (Shaking Puppy Syndrome). The test can also be used to confirm a diagnosis but hopefully this will be an academic point from now on.
SLEM has been a distressing condition for those who have experienced clinical cases and a frightening spectre for the rest of us who care about this breed. Regrettably in dealing with it a considerable degree of discord has been generated within the breed community.
However, the availability of the genetic test allows the breed to look forward with enthusiasm; reduces any concerns about the origins of the genetic mutation to the level of academic interest; and, in just a few generations, has the potential to eliminate the gene mutation from the core of our breeding stock through careful and informed selection of breeding dogs.
Further information about SLEM and the use of the genetic test can be found on the Breed Health Website (https://borderterrierhealth.org.uk) however all breeders should be positive about the simple fact that they can breed safely from any carrier or clear dog if they observe the advice to never breed two carriers together.
Genetic testing for SLEM
The genetic test should be used to its full potential. Thus, for a few generations, it is sensible for breeders to continue to use carriers in their breeding programmes, where this has value. This strategy preserves genetic diversity within the breed and also keeps the high quality breed characteristics that are embedded in breed lines associated with clinically affected dogs.
The Breed Health Website has been developed as a service to the breed. This website is used to provide information to those interested in Border Terriers, including current knowledge surrounding various inherited conditions and keeping everyone up to date about progress being made on the health of the breed. Therefore, a list of dogs tested for SLEM has been published (https://borderterrierhealth.org.uk/slem-results-interpretation.html) on the Breed Health Website.
This information has been freely provided by Border Terrier owners and made available with their permission. However the Kennel Club now publishes a list of test results provided by the Animal Health Trust (AHT) and in time this will render our website list redundant for UK registered dogs. The Kennel Club list can be found on the KC website (https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health/for-breeders/dna-screening-schemes-and-results/dna-screening-for-breeds-a-b/border-terrier-dna-screening/). Searching the KC site for ‘genetic tests results’ may prove the easiest route to find this list.
Where information has been provided, test results from internationally registered dogs are also included on the list of results published on the Breed Health website. These dogs will not appear on the KC list. Thus we are considering maintaining the facility to continue listing dogs registered in countries other than the UK.
The Breed Health Survey
The Health Survey has been included on the Breed Health website and now owners can provide information about their dog’s health electronically without the need to complete a paper copy of the survey form. This electronic list will also permit better data handling and thus improved analysis. However to be useful Border Terrier owners need to complete survey reports, whether or not their dog suffers from any health or welfare problem.
The original concept for the health survey intended the information to provide an alert system for emerging conditions. However it failed to do so in the case of SLEM and CECS and was only reported by dog owners once the condition had already been of concern for some years.
However, information is now commonly shared universally by informal means, especially through social media. Such anecdotal information does not provide wholly reliable information for meaningful research but it can be helpful in raising concerns about emerging conditions especially as the anecdotal information is often supplemented by international experience.
Nevertheless, the Health Survey continues to provide useful data about the general health of the breed and along-side other health information (e.g VetCompass) our own survey will help prioritise the conditions that are most prevalent in our breed.
Emerging conditions?
As a consequence of social media reporting and the ready access to international concerns, a number of requests for information have been initiated covering specific conditions of interest where anecdotal information suggests there may be a growing concern. The specific conditions are: brain tumours; Cushing’s Disease; juvenile cataract; and bilary mucocoele. However other conditions reported include Perthe’s Disease and hip and elbow dysplasia. Updates about this project will be reported on the Breed Health Website.
Information on any of the listed conditions or any other condition can be provided either by email to the Breed Health Co-ordinator (stevedean@tyrianborder.com) or any of the Breed Health Group, or by simply filling in a Breed Health Survey report either online or in hard copy sent to the Breed Health Coordinator.
Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome (CECS)
CECS research has made some headway but we are far from a solution. Diagnosis of cases of CECS remains challenging although a proposed test for gluten sensitivity may lead to a clinical test to aid confirmation of clinical cases where gluten is a triggering factor.
Using cases that have already been established as gluten related as a basis, research will soon commence to identify gene mutations which might produce CECS. In the UK, Mark Lowrie, a veterinary neurologist, has led the clinical research and continues his work investigating the relationship between CECS and gluten. He has linked up with the science team at the Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) and a research project is planned. This project will attempt to locate areas of the genome that are associated with clinical signs of CECS where gluten is established as a factor.
It is premature to assume gluten is the complete answer and in Germany research is planned to investigate those cases where gluten is not associated with clinical cases. Therefore, although we might hope for a simple genetic test, it is likely the search for possible mutations will be protracted and challenging. As a result we are unlikely to see a rapid introduction of a specific genetic test.
It has been suggested in some social exchanges that CECS and SLEM are different clinical signs of the same mutation. This is however considered unlikely by the specialists we are working with at the AHT and in clinical practice.
Research Funding
Research costs money and the AHT has control of funds received from donors outside of the Breed Club network. This is likely to be sufficient to fund the first phase of the planned work on gluten cases. However the need for further work has a high probability and the breed clubs and their members should be prepared to help financially. The breed clubs and other groups and individuals have collectively raised a significant amount of money already, which is being held in a Joint account for use of the Breed Health Group, but this is likely to be spent fairly quickly if the first phase of research requires further studies to be completed.
Keeping track
The new Breed Health Website will be used to keep everyone up to date on progress and owners and breeders are encouraged to consult the website regularly and to take part in initiatives to identify and control inherited conditions as the opportunity arises.
Steve Dean
Breed Health Coordinator
SLEM has been a distressing condition for those who have experienced clinical cases and a frightening spectre for the rest of us who care about this breed. Regrettably in dealing with it a considerable degree of discord has been generated within the breed community.
However, the availability of the genetic test allows the breed to look forward with enthusiasm; reduces any concerns about the origins of the genetic mutation to the level of academic interest; and, in just a few generations, has the potential to eliminate the gene mutation from the core of our breeding stock through careful and informed selection of breeding dogs.
Further information about SLEM and the use of the genetic test can be found on the Breed Health Website (https://borderterrierhealth.org.uk) however all breeders should be positive about the simple fact that they can breed safely from any carrier or clear dog if they observe the advice to never breed two carriers together.
Genetic testing for SLEM
The genetic test should be used to its full potential. Thus, for a few generations, it is sensible for breeders to continue to use carriers in their breeding programmes, where this has value. This strategy preserves genetic diversity within the breed and also keeps the high quality breed characteristics that are embedded in breed lines associated with clinically affected dogs.
The Breed Health Website has been developed as a service to the breed. This website is used to provide information to those interested in Border Terriers, including current knowledge surrounding various inherited conditions and keeping everyone up to date about progress being made on the health of the breed. Therefore, a list of dogs tested for SLEM has been published (https://borderterrierhealth.org.uk/slem-results-interpretation.html) on the Breed Health Website.
This information has been freely provided by Border Terrier owners and made available with their permission. However the Kennel Club now publishes a list of test results provided by the Animal Health Trust (AHT) and in time this will render our website list redundant for UK registered dogs. The Kennel Club list can be found on the KC website (https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health/for-breeders/dna-screening-schemes-and-results/dna-screening-for-breeds-a-b/border-terrier-dna-screening/). Searching the KC site for ‘genetic tests results’ may prove the easiest route to find this list.
Where information has been provided, test results from internationally registered dogs are also included on the list of results published on the Breed Health website. These dogs will not appear on the KC list. Thus we are considering maintaining the facility to continue listing dogs registered in countries other than the UK.
The Breed Health Survey
The Health Survey has been included on the Breed Health website and now owners can provide information about their dog’s health electronically without the need to complete a paper copy of the survey form. This electronic list will also permit better data handling and thus improved analysis. However to be useful Border Terrier owners need to complete survey reports, whether or not their dog suffers from any health or welfare problem.
The original concept for the health survey intended the information to provide an alert system for emerging conditions. However it failed to do so in the case of SLEM and CECS and was only reported by dog owners once the condition had already been of concern for some years.
However, information is now commonly shared universally by informal means, especially through social media. Such anecdotal information does not provide wholly reliable information for meaningful research but it can be helpful in raising concerns about emerging conditions especially as the anecdotal information is often supplemented by international experience.
Nevertheless, the Health Survey continues to provide useful data about the general health of the breed and along-side other health information (e.g VetCompass) our own survey will help prioritise the conditions that are most prevalent in our breed.
Emerging conditions?
As a consequence of social media reporting and the ready access to international concerns, a number of requests for information have been initiated covering specific conditions of interest where anecdotal information suggests there may be a growing concern. The specific conditions are: brain tumours; Cushing’s Disease; juvenile cataract; and bilary mucocoele. However other conditions reported include Perthe’s Disease and hip and elbow dysplasia. Updates about this project will be reported on the Breed Health Website.
Information on any of the listed conditions or any other condition can be provided either by email to the Breed Health Co-ordinator (stevedean@tyrianborder.com) or any of the Breed Health Group, or by simply filling in a Breed Health Survey report either online or in hard copy sent to the Breed Health Coordinator.
Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome (CECS)
CECS research has made some headway but we are far from a solution. Diagnosis of cases of CECS remains challenging although a proposed test for gluten sensitivity may lead to a clinical test to aid confirmation of clinical cases where gluten is a triggering factor.
Using cases that have already been established as gluten related as a basis, research will soon commence to identify gene mutations which might produce CECS. In the UK, Mark Lowrie, a veterinary neurologist, has led the clinical research and continues his work investigating the relationship between CECS and gluten. He has linked up with the science team at the Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) and a research project is planned. This project will attempt to locate areas of the genome that are associated with clinical signs of CECS where gluten is established as a factor.
It is premature to assume gluten is the complete answer and in Germany research is planned to investigate those cases where gluten is not associated with clinical cases. Therefore, although we might hope for a simple genetic test, it is likely the search for possible mutations will be protracted and challenging. As a result we are unlikely to see a rapid introduction of a specific genetic test.
It has been suggested in some social exchanges that CECS and SLEM are different clinical signs of the same mutation. This is however considered unlikely by the specialists we are working with at the AHT and in clinical practice.
Research Funding
Research costs money and the AHT has control of funds received from donors outside of the Breed Club network. This is likely to be sufficient to fund the first phase of the planned work on gluten cases. However the need for further work has a high probability and the breed clubs and their members should be prepared to help financially. The breed clubs and other groups and individuals have collectively raised a significant amount of money already, which is being held in a Joint account for use of the Breed Health Group, but this is likely to be spent fairly quickly if the first phase of research requires further studies to be completed.
Keeping track
The new Breed Health Website will be used to keep everyone up to date on progress and owners and breeders are encouraged to consult the website regularly and to take part in initiatives to identify and control inherited conditions as the opportunity arises.
Steve Dean
Breed Health Coordinator