Population parameters to compare dog breeds : differences between five Dutch purebred populations

Differences in five purebred dog populations born in 1994 in the Netherlands were evaluated using different parameters. Numerically, the Golden Retriever was the largest breed (840 litters of 234 sires) and the Kooiker Dog (101 litters of 41 sires) the smallest. The litter per sire ratio was largest in the Bernese Mountain Dog (4.59) and lowest in the Kooiker Dog (2.46). The mean relatedness and the actual mean level of inbreeding in the studied generations were 0.102 and 0.056 respectively for the Bernese Mountain Dog, 0.041 and 0.046 for the Bouvier des Flandres, 0.087 and 0.061 for the Boxer, 0.020 and 0.018 for the Golden Retriever, and 0.146 and 0.070 for the Kooiker Dog. Quantification and visualization of population parameters for purebred dogs will facilitate the comparison of breeds and the comparison of breeds in different periods or countries. It appears unlikely that the increase in inbreeding is a major determinant of the possible increase in the frequency of genetic diseases

Diagnostic value of a microsatellite DNA marker for copper toxicosis in West-European Bedlington terriers and incidence of the disease

Recently, linkage of a DNA microsatellite marker to inherited copper toxicosis has been reported in American Bedlington terrier families. Due to the fact that there is little exchange of breeding stock between the USA and Europe, it remains to be investigated whether in Europe the marker is informative and is linked with the disease. We have therefore examined the diagnostic value of the microsatellite marker in the European Bedlington. In 130 dogs at least one year of age (62 from The Netherlands, 35 from Belgium, and 33 from Germany) histo- or cytochemical staining of copper was done in liver biopsies. Based on liver histo- or cytochemistry, 51 dogs were obligate carriers, and 25 dogs had copper toxicosis. The inferred genotypes of these 76 dogs were compared with the marker genotypes. All dogs with the disease were homozygous for the 167 bp marker allele. All obligate carriers were heterozygotes with the 167 bp and a 163-bp alleles. All phenotypically healthy dogs were either homozygous for the 163 bp allele or heterozygous. Thus, the marker was in complete linkage disequilibrium with the putative copper toxicosis gene with the 167 bp allele in phase with the disease allele. The frequencies of the 167 bp and the 163 bp allele, respectively, were 0.33 and 0.67 in Dutch dogs, 0.31 and 0.69 in German dogs, and 0.57 and 0.43 in Belgian dogs. We have confirmed the utility of this marker for diagnosis of inherited copper toxicosis in European Bedlington terriers

Sleep position trainer versus tennis ball technique in positional obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Study Objective Positional therapy (PT) is an effective therapy in positional obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (POSAS) when used, but the compliance of PT is low. The objective of this study was to investigate whether a new kind of PT is effective and can improve compliance. Methods 29 patients were treated with the sleep position trainer (SPT), 26 patients with the tennis ball technique (TBT). At baseline and 1 month polysomnography, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Quebec Sleep Questionnaire (QSQ) were taken. Daily compliance was objectively measured in both groups. Results Both therapies prevent supine sleep position to a median of 0% (min-max: SPT 0.0% to 67%, TBT 0.0% to 38.9%), resulting in a treatment success (AHI < 5) in 68.0% of the SPT and 42.9% of the TBT patients. The ESS at baseline was < 10 in both groups. Sleep quality parameters, such as wake after sleep onset (WASO; p = 0.001) and awakenings (p = 0.006), improved more in the SPT group. Total QSQ scores (0.4 ± 0.2, p = 0.03), the QSQ domains nocturnal symptoms (0.7 ± 0.2, p = 0.01), and social interactions (0.8 ± 0.3, p = 0.02) changed in favor of the SPT group. Effective compliance (≥ 4 h/night + ≥ 5 days/week) was 75.9% for the SPT and 42.3% for the TBT users (p = 0.01). Conclusion In mild POSAS with normal EES the new SPT device and the standard TBT are equally effective in reducing respiratory indices. However, compared to the TBT, sleep quality, quality of life, and compliance improved significantly more in the SPT group