Canine Glaucoma and Lens Luxation Research

This research project to identify DNA markers for Glaucoma and Lens Luxation in many breeds of dogs is funded by a grant from the Canine Health Foundation (Active Grant #2291). The CHF grant is supported by several breed clubs who have made this research a priority. Collaborators from the Animal Health Trust are working with the team at the University of Missouri to move this research forward.

The goal of this research project is to find the genes responsible for glaucoma and lens luxation in many breeds of dogs so that wise breeding practices can reduce the incidence of these diseases. We also hope that with early identification of dogs destined to become affected with these diseases, treatment can be initiated to save their sight and prevent suffering.

Specific objectives for this project are as follows;

1. Recruit samples from a large number of affected individuals and their immediate family members (siblings, parents, grandparents, and offspring), from many breeds of dogs.
2. Examine individual dogs affected with glaucoma and/or lens luxation to define the phenotype as precisely as possible.
3. Devise informative DNA marker assays for the canine genes which correspond with any candidate genes for lens luxation and/or glaucoma that may appear in the scientific literature.
4. Use new and existing marker assays to test for linkage between these markers and lens luxation or glaucoma, and begin global mapping with markers from the canine genome linkage map in canine lens luxation and glaucoma families.
5. Evaluate the genotype of selected research families to search for linkage between DNA markers and clinical disease, then use this information to identify the causative mutation or mutations.
6. Devise a DNA marker test that detects and distinguishes normal and mutant (disease-causing) alleles, and make this test available to dog breeders so that they can produce dogs with healthy eyes, free from glaucoma or lens luxation.

As of April 12, 2006, samples from 1328 dogs representing 17 different breeds and 1 mixed breed dog have been submitted for glaucoma and lens luxation research. Included in this total are 117 dogs affected with glaucoma, 70 dogs affected with lens luxation, and 16 dogs affected with both diseases, plus 1125 normal relatives not diagnosed with either disease. As samples arrive, families are assembled and markers screened. Samples from both affected and normal dogs from canine glaucoma and lens luxation families are still needed, and we encourage owners and breeders to participate.

How Can I Help?

Participate in the research. If you own a dog with glaucoma and/or lens luxation, please send information and samples. Owners of dogs related to the affected dog should also be encouraged to send samples - ideally we would like samples from the affected dog, plus the siblings, parents, and grandparents (if they are still living). If the affected dog has been used for breeding, all the offspring plus the second parent of the pups should be sampled. Half-siblings, aunts, uncles, and other relatives may also be useful. For more information on dogs that should be sampled, please see Useful Research Families. All information is held in strict confidence - the names of individual owners and dogs will not be revealed. Forms and instructions for participating can be printed from the SAMPLE SUBMISSION section of this website, or upon request will be mailed or faxed to you.

Tell other breeders, owners, veterinarians, and ophthalmologists about this project. With later onset diseases such as these, often we are not able to completely sample ideal research families. Many families will be needed for this research. Owners and breeders can inform others of the research through club newsletters, club and personal websites, and personal communication. Please tell your veterinarian and ophthalmologist about the research and this website, so that when they have clients with affected dogs they can encourage them to participate as well.

Help to fund the research through donations to the Canine Health Foundation. The grant from CHF that funds this research is dependent upon donations from clubs and individuals. Donations of any amount are helpful. If your breed club is one of the sponsors of this grant, you can donate to their Donor Advised Fund, and know that your donation will be used for this research. If your club is not a sponsor, you may donate directly to the CHF, and request that your donation be used to fund this project (Active Grant #2291). All donations are tax deductible.

Researchers collaborating on this project have agreed to:

• Share DNA samples, phenotype and genotype data
• Co-author manuscripts resulting from the research
• Place discoveries in the public domain

Currently the researchers included are

University of Missouri Gary Johnson DVM, PhD Elizabeth Giuliano DVM, MS, DACVO Kristina Narfstrom PhD Shahnawaz Khan PhD Liz Hansen

Animal Health Trust Matthew Binns PhD Cathryn Mellersh PhD