Letters
DOG BREEDING
Inherited pathology and pet trading RECENTLY, two miniature schnauzer dogs affected by persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS) have been referred by independent local veterinary practitioners to the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences in Zaragoza, Spain. In light of the observed malformations in the genitalia, we performed DNA sequencing and verified that both dogs were homozygous carriers of the MISRII locus mutation, identified previously in the literature to be responsible for PMDS in this breed in the USA (Wu and others 2009). PMDS has been reported in miniature schnauzers in the Netherlands (Vegter and others 2010) and in Japan (Matsuu and others 2009), but in these cases the presence of this mutation was not verified. Since the odds for identical independent mutation events are virtually zero, a common genetic origin must be postulated, at least for the cases in the USA and in Spain for which DNA sequence information has
been determined. Its recessive inheritance pattern, together with the fertility of some affected individuals, would have allowed the dissemination of PMDS in miniature schnauzers globally. Since we have been unable to trace the origin of the two dogs in this study (which were bought in pet shops by their owners), genetic control procedures cannot be implemented and we can only expect the occurrence of additional cases in the future. Results such as these strengthen the view that a common legislation on the pet trade is urgently needed in a globalised world. According to the Spanish Royal Canine Society (RSCE), a domestic government legislative project is expected to regulate the pet trade (RSCE 2014); this includes an obligation for breeders to perform the tests necessary to prevent the commercialisation of ill animals and of those showing defects, according to their breed standards. In theory, as the legislation refers to inherited diseases, this would mean a significant change, since genetic testing would be required not only upon inscription into genealogical books but also at any commercial transaction. Is this a realistic proposition? The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association’s (HSVMA)Guide to Congenital and Heritable Disorders (HSVMA 2011) lists 41 such diseases (including pseudohermaphroditism) for miniature schnauzers, a figure exceeded considerably in other breeds. The cost of these analyses would therefore become prohibitive. Instead, at least in single-locus inherited pathologies, a different system is necessary. It could be based on three points: permanent electronic chip identification before trading, registration of each transaction in an accessible database including progenitors’ identity and mandatory inclusion of the observed cases in this database. Producers having supplied affected or carrier animals could then be obliged to provide the results of genetic tests for either reproducers and/or puppies in the future. Transparency has proved to be extremely efficient in the management of inherited diseases in pets whenever laboratory tests are available and affordable. The successful control of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in Persian cats in the UK is a clear example: prevalence decreased from 29 per cent to 2.5 per cent from 2005 to 2013, according to the information available in the International Cat Care (ICC) PKD Negative Register (ICC 2015). In special circumstances where parentage identification is not possible, such as cases of adopted or abandoned animals, sterilisation (a common practice in most cases) should be encouraged or even made compulsory. March 21, 21015 | Veterinary Record | 315
t
Letters
Letters Luis V. Monteagudo, M. Teresa Tejedor, Alicia Uixerá, Olga Mitjana, M. Victoria Falceto, Cristina Bonastre, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013-Zaragoza, Spain e-mail: [email protected]
References
HSVMA (2011) Guide to congenital and heritable disorders in dogs. www.hsvma.org/assets/pdfs/guideto-congenital-and-heritable-disorders.pdf. Accessed March 16, 2015 ICC (2015) PKD Negative Register. www.icatcare.org/ breeders/registers/PKD?title_selective=All. Accessed March 16, 2015 MATSUU, A., HASHIZUME, T., KANDA, T., NAGANO, M., SUGIYAMA, A., OKAMOTO, Y. & HIKASA, Y. (2009) A case of persistent Müllerian duct syndrome with Sertoli cell tumor and hydrometra in a dog. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 71, 379-381 RSCE (2014) Borrador de anteproyecto de ley por el que se establece la normativa básica del comercio y tenencia responsable de perros y gatos. www.rsce.es/ web/images/rsce/noticias/BorradorAPL_comercio_ tenencia_responsable_perros-gatos.pdf. Accessed March 16, 2015 VEGTER, A. R., KOOISTRA, H. S., VAN SLUIJS, F. J., VAN BRUGGEN, L. W., IJZER, J., ZIJLSTRA, C. & OKKENS, A. C. (2010) Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome in a Miniature Schnauzer dog with signs of feminization and a Sertoli cell tumour. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 45, 447-452 WU, X., WAN, S., PUJAR, S., HASKINS, M. E., SCHLAFER, D. H., LEE, M. M. & MEYERSWALLEN, V. N. (2009) A single base pair mutation encoding a premature stop codon in the MIS type II
316 | Veterinary Record | March 21, 2015
receptor is responsible for canine persistent Müllerian duct syndrome. Journal of Andrology 30, 46-56
doi: 10.1136/vr.h1498
Copyright of Veterinary Record: Journal of the British Veterinary Association is the property of BMJ Publishing Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
DOG BREEDING
Inherited pathology and pet trading RECENTLY, two miniature schnauzer dogs affected by persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS) have been referred by independent local veterinary practitioners to the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences in Zaragoza, Spain. In light of the observed malformations in the genitalia, we performed DNA sequencing and verified that both dogs were homozygous carriers of the MISRII locus mutation, identified previously in the literature to be responsible for PMDS in this breed in the USA (Wu and others 2009). PMDS has been reported in miniature schnauzers in the Netherlands (Vegter and others 2010) and in Japan (Matsuu and others 2009), but in these cases the presence of this mutation was not verified. Since the odds for identical independent mutation events are virtually zero, a common genetic origin must be postulated, at least for the cases in the USA and in Spain for which DNA sequence information has
been determined. Its recessive inheritance pattern, together with the fertility of some affected individuals, would have allowed the dissemination of PMDS in miniature schnauzers globally. Since we have been unable to trace the origin of the two dogs in this study (which were bought in pet shops by their owners), genetic control procedures cannot be implemented and we can only expect the occurrence of additional cases in the future. Results such as these strengthen the view that a common legislation on the pet trade is urgently needed in a globalised world. According to the Spanish Royal Canine Society (RSCE), a domestic government legislative project is expected to regulate the pet trade (RSCE 2014); this includes an obligation for breeders to perform the tests necessary to prevent the commercialisation of ill animals and of those showing defects, according to their breed standards. In theory, as the legislation refers to inherited diseases, this would mean a significant change, since genetic testing would be required not only upon inscription into genealogical books but also at any commercial transaction. Is this a realistic proposition? The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association’s (HSVMA)Guide to Congenital and Heritable Disorders (HSVMA 2011) lists 41 such diseases (including pseudohermaphroditism) for miniature schnauzers, a figure exceeded considerably in other breeds. The cost of these analyses would therefore become prohibitive. Instead, at least in single-locus inherited pathologies, a different system is necessary. It could be based on three points: permanent electronic chip identification before trading, registration of each transaction in an accessible database including progenitors’ identity and mandatory inclusion of the observed cases in this database. Producers having supplied affected or carrier animals could then be obliged to provide the results of genetic tests for either reproducers and/or puppies in the future. Transparency has proved to be extremely efficient in the management of inherited diseases in pets whenever laboratory tests are available and affordable. The successful control of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in Persian cats in the UK is a clear example: prevalence decreased from 29 per cent to 2.5 per cent from 2005 to 2013, according to the information available in the International Cat Care (ICC) PKD Negative Register (ICC 2015). In special circumstances where parentage identification is not possible, such as cases of adopted or abandoned animals, sterilisation (a common practice in most cases) should be encouraged or even made compulsory. March 21, 21015 | Veterinary Record | 315
t
Letters
Letters Luis V. Monteagudo, M. Teresa Tejedor, Alicia Uixerá, Olga Mitjana, M. Victoria Falceto, Cristina Bonastre, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013-Zaragoza, Spain e-mail: [email protected]
References
HSVMA (2011) Guide to congenital and heritable disorders in dogs. www.hsvma.org/assets/pdfs/guideto-congenital-and-heritable-disorders.pdf. Accessed March 16, 2015 ICC (2015) PKD Negative Register. www.icatcare.org/ breeders/registers/PKD?title_selective=All. Accessed March 16, 2015 MATSUU, A., HASHIZUME, T., KANDA, T., NAGANO, M., SUGIYAMA, A., OKAMOTO, Y. & HIKASA, Y. (2009) A case of persistent Müllerian duct syndrome with Sertoli cell tumor and hydrometra in a dog. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 71, 379-381 RSCE (2014) Borrador de anteproyecto de ley por el que se establece la normativa básica del comercio y tenencia responsable de perros y gatos. www.rsce.es/ web/images/rsce/noticias/BorradorAPL_comercio_ tenencia_responsable_perros-gatos.pdf. Accessed March 16, 2015 VEGTER, A. R., KOOISTRA, H. S., VAN SLUIJS, F. J., VAN BRUGGEN, L. W., IJZER, J., ZIJLSTRA, C. & OKKENS, A. C. (2010) Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome in a Miniature Schnauzer dog with signs of feminization and a Sertoli cell tumour. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 45, 447-452 WU, X., WAN, S., PUJAR, S., HASKINS, M. E., SCHLAFER, D. H., LEE, M. M. & MEYERSWALLEN, V. N. (2009) A single base pair mutation encoding a premature stop codon in the MIS type II
316 | Veterinary Record | March 21, 2015
receptor is responsible for canine persistent Müllerian duct syndrome. Journal of Andrology 30, 46-56
doi: 10.1136/vr.h1498
Copyright of Veterinary Record: Journal of the British Veterinary Association is the property of BMJ Publishing Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
