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If you would care to donate to this most worthwhile project, contributions are gratefully accepted. Please send any money to AKC/CHF not to Dr. Patterson.  The BERP receives matching funds through the AKC Canine Health Foundation. Be sure to indicate on the check Beagle Epilepsy Project or Grant # 1729.   If this is not included the money goes into another account.

General Information

INTRODUCTION

In March 1999, the AKC Canine Health Foundation awarded a grant to researchers at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine to study the molecular genetics of canine epilepsy in Beagles, English Springers, and Vizlas. The eventual goal of the study is to identify a marker or gene for epilepsy and to develop a screening test to determine normal, carrier, and affected status, thus allowing breeders the potential to eliminate epilepsy. Lay and scientific abstracts are on the back of this page.

GATHERING INFORMATION

This packet contains the following forms:

(On this internet version - you will have to click on the links below, to go to the page for each of the following forms and print it out then fill it in.)

To help determine possible links between epilepsy and other conditions, some questions on the forms ask about other diseases, conditions, or characteristics. Please answer as accurately and completely as possible.

Complete families, including both seizing and non-seizing dogs, are critical to this project. Wherever possible, submit samples from an entire litter, both parents and their siblings, and all available grand parents and their siblings ( and beyond if available). Owners of individual seizing dogs whose families are not being studied are welcome to submit blood or tissue samples, Individual Dog Questionnaires, and Pedigrees, which will be used later in the project.

How to begin

  1. Complete the Consent Form, and Individual Dog Questionnaire for each dog.
  2. For each litter, make a "litter packet" that contains the Litter List, Litter Information. To each litter, assign a Litter ID Code using the kennel name or breeder’s name, plus the date of birth; for example of John Doe had a litter born May 15, 1992 the code would be Doe 05-15-92. Put this on all litter forms.
  3. For each litter supply a correctly formatted (sire on top, dam on bottom) 4 or 5 generation typed or computer generated Pedigree.
  4. Collect a blood or tissue sample from each dog. Refer to Instructions for Blood and Tissue Sample Submission for procedures.
  5. On a spare copy of the Pedigree mark for yourself who is sampled, not sampled, and deceased/unavailable, to keep track of dogs from whom you need to obtain samples.
  6. Send all materials to the address at the bottom.

Make and distribute additional copies of all forms as needed. Keep copies of everything for your records.

To request forms or if you have any questions or need assistance completing the forms or pedigrees, call the Canine and Equine Genetics Lab at the University of Minnesota 612-624-5322.

Epilepsy Research Project
C/O Dr. Ned Patterson
Neuromuscular Genetics Lab
University of Minnesota
C339 Veterinary Teaching Hospitals
1352 Boyd Ave, St. Paul MN 55108
Phone:612-624-5322

BEAGLE EPILEPSY RESEARCH PROJECT
University of Minnesota
Ned E. Patterson DVM, James R. Mickelson PhD, and P. Jane Armstrong DVM, MS

Lay Abstract

We propose to develop a genetic screening test for canine epilepsy, a serious late-onset seizure disorder affecting a large number of breeds. The onset of seizures in dogs with epilepsy is typically from one to five years of age. The late onset means that often a dog has already been bred before it is known to be affected. In some individuals, seizures are well controlled with anticonvulsant medications, but a significant number of dogs have "refractory" seizures needing high doses of medications to achieve control. The severity of seizures may be such that the owner elects to have the dog euthanized. A genetic test for epilepsy would allow breeders to screen potential breeding animals for this common, frustrating, and potentially devastating disorder prior to making breeding decisions. We propose to determine the mode of inheritance for epilepsy in 3 breeds (English Springer Spaniels, Beagles, and Vizslas) and to use genetic markers to develop a screening linkage test for predicting epilepsy in these breeds. . This approach to identifying the region of the canine genome containing the defective gene will ultimately lead to the prediction of candidate genes that can be characterized to define the precise defect responsible. For the Beagle we will initially perform pedigree analysis on a colony of beagles and pedigrees from the general beagle population. We will perform genetic analysis on the beagle colony first, and then, once there is success with the colony, another breed, or additional funds available, we will proceed with genetic analysis on the general beagle population.

Science Summary

We propose to develop a microsatellite screening test for epilepsy in English Springer Spaniels, Beagles, and Vizslas. Epileptic dogs will be identified and the mode(s) of inheritance determined in each breed. Owner questionnaires will be conducted to classify the phenotype of each individual in extended three generation pedigrees to determine the mode(s) of inheritance by pedigree analysis. Genetic linkage analysis using microsatellites markers will be used to attempt to find a DNA marker linked to canine epilepsy in one or more of the breeds. A number of linked markers will hopefully be identified and a linkage map of these markers to the epilepsy locus will be constructed. The region of the canine genome containing these linked markers will be determined from somatic cell hybrid panels or the developed and emerging canine linkage map. Comparative mapping across species may allow prediction of candidate genes based from the syntenic chromosomal position in humans. Affected pedigrees and epileptic kindreds from the study breeds will be genotyped and the linkage data examined to determine if genetic heterogeneity exists within and between breeds. Dogs with predicted disease status will be followed to assess the accuracy of disease prediction based on the linkage test.