 Barked: Thu Jul 20, '06 12:48pm PST | |
 | |  | | Hi! I got this one one of my Frenchie lists!
Date: 07/19/06 08:01:16
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:,
Subject: French Bulldog Cataract research; samples needed
PLEASE FORWARD to anyone you know who has Frenchies.....
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:31 AM
Subject: Cataract research; samples needed
Dr. Catherine Mellersh, in the UK, has asked that anyone who has a
Frenchie with hereditary cataracts (diagnosed by a vet.
ophthalmologist) send some DNA samples to her so that she may try to
identify the gene involved and develop a DNA test to identify carriers
of the gene. She can use either swabs or blood, swabs being easier to send from the US.
If you want to participate, she can send you swabs, or I can do so if you email me.
There is a form that must be submitted with each sample. If you email
me or Dr. Mellersh, either of us can send you that form as an
attachment. I can send it as a Word file, a Mac file, or a pdf. If
you have questions, Dr. Mellersh can be contacted at
cathryn.mellersh@aht.org.uk or through her website at www.aht.org.uk
Jan Grebe
Here is Dr. Mellersh's email:
I work at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, UK, in the Canine
Genetics group, and my group is carrying out extensive studies into
the genetics of Hereditary Cataract (HC) in various breeds of dog.
Our group recently identified the mutation that causes HC in
Staffordshire bull terriers and Boston terriers and DNA testing for HC
in those breeds is now available at the AHT.
I am very interested to screen French bulldogs with hereditary
cataract to see if they carry the same mutation - if they do they will
also be able to benefit from the test which allows breeders to
identify which of their dogs are affected, carriers or clear of the
condition and thus breed it out of their lines. Given the close
reltionship between these breeds I am quite confident the mutation
will turn out to be the same.
To be able to tell whether French bulldogs carry the same mutation as
these other breeds we will need a sample of DNA from dogs affected
with HC (most important) and from known carriers (parents or offspring
of affected dogs). The DNA can be provided by way of a simple cheek
swab that the owner can collect themselves. We also need a copy of
the eye examination certificate,to confirm diagnosis.
Would you be able to help us recruit suitable DNA samples? We are
more than happy to provide cheek swabs free of charge to anybody who
has an affected or carrier dog. I have attached a form that details
all the information we need.
I do look forward to hearing from you soon and if there is anything
else I can do to persude FBD owners this is a good idea just let me
know. I am reasonably confident that we could have a test for HC in
this breed - I just need some samples to test first.
Best wishes
cathryn
Cathryn Mellersh PhD
Animal Health Trust
Lanwades Park
Kentford
Newmarket
Suffolk
CB8 7UU
U.K.
Tel: +44 (0)8700 50 24 60
Fax: +44 (0)8700 50 24 61
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