Tails In the News

Canines are fast becoming MVPs when it comes to scientific research. Recently, our four-legged friends have graced newspaper headlines nationwide with reports of an uncanny ability to sniff out some types of cancer in humans. Closer to home, at the University of Missouri-Columbia, a group of Tibetan Terriers has played a crucial role in an on-going study of the genetic bases of diseases that affect both dogs and humans.

Tibetan Terriers, famous for their long and wavy double coats, are susceptible to an incurable neurological disease known as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL). The disease is hereditary and terminal, and it has a human equivalent called Batten disease, which is characterized by symptoms in children that include blindness, seizures, cognitive decline, and loss of motor function. For this reason, researchers at UM are using Tibetan Terrier DNA, taken from an extensive national canine DNA bank, to better understand the pathology of the disease and develop therapies for it.

According to the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, the homology between the human genome and the canine genome is over 85%, so an advance in health research, whether it’s for dogs or humans, is often a two-way street. Studying canines, however, is more efficient.

“Canines are perfect for genetic research—they offer shortened generation spans, often with detailed pedigrees and the phenotypic information that makes it easier for scientists and investigators to study the progression of the disease quickly,” says Wayne Ferguson, president of the AKC Health Foundation.
“Also, since canines and humans share much of the same genetic information, and often the same environment and sometimes food, canine research is leading to advancements in human research as well.”

Martin L. Katz, professor of ophthalmology at the university with dual appointments in the School of Medicine and the College of Veterinary Medicine is leading the Tibetan Terrier study. He is searching for the genetic bases of the disease by studying the large pool of DNA provided by the dogs’ guardians.

Katz is hoping to identify the NCL disease gene mutations which will ultimately make it possible to determine whether any humans with NCL have the mutations in the corresponding human gene. In turn, the disease can be diagnosed early enough for effective therapy.

Stuart Eckmann and Linda Bell of the Tibetan Terrier Club of  America’s health program were responsible for the initial development of the DNA bank, referring guardians of affected dogs to Katz for examination of retinal and neural tissue. Since then, MU has expanded canine DNA banking for genetic studies to many other dog breeds and diseases including epilepsy, cancer, and Parkinson’s disease.

“The DNA Bank is an important tool, not just for our breed but for all breeds,” says Eckmann. “With the completion of the Human Genome Map and the Canine Genome Map and because of their similarity to one another, researchers have new tools. When they identify a marker for one species they have a pretty good idea of where they can expect to find the marker for the same condition in the other species. That’s one reason why canine genetic studies will help find common solutions for both dogs and humans.”

In addition to the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, support for Katz’s work has been provided by the Batten Disease Support and Research Association and Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc.


For more information about canine genetic studies, visit www.AKCCHF.org.