Despite the wide availability of tick-borne disease panels at laboratories in the USA and abroad, most results from sick dogs are negative, which frustrates veterinarians and dog owners trying to reach a definitive diagnosis. Continue reading “Research Update CHF 02528 MY3: Developing a Next Generation Sequencing Diagnostic Platform for Tick-Borne Diseases”
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Research Update CHF 02502 MY3: Precision Medicine for Canine Lymphoma
The clinical response of dogs with lymphoma to multi-agent chemotherapy is highly variable. Although up to 85% of dogs respond initially, some relapse within weeks, while others enjoy remission times of two years. This heterogeneity in clinical response is in part explained by the recognition that “lymphoma” is not a single disease entity but consists of different subtypes that can be characterized on a molecular level by mutations in specific genes. Continue reading “Research Update CHF 02502 MY3: Precision Medicine for Canine Lymphoma”
Research Update CHF 02403-MOU MY and EY-3: Microphthalmia and Delayed Growth Syndrome in the Portuguese Water Dog
Objective A is 100% complete. A draft of the paper describing the clinicopathological findings had been written but we found more data on affected puppies, which were added to the paper. The paper is being submitted for publication within the next 4 weeks. A paper was published about microphthalmia in PWDs recently by a group out of Cornell. However, this paper described only the ocular changes in affected dogs. With our publication, we will show that there can be other abnormalities such as low platelet counts and stunted growth, which makes this a truly syndromic disorder. We have also included pedigree analyses showing the autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. In the meantime, we have decided to put all of the clinical data into the final paper describing the disease-causing variant, making this a large landmark paper. Continue reading “Research Update CHF 02403-MOU MY and EY-3: Microphthalmia and Delayed Growth Syndrome in the Portuguese Water Dog”
Research Update CHF 02322 Mid-Year 4: Analysis of the Health, Behavioral, and Longevity Data Collected in the 9/11 Medical Surveillance Longitudinal Study
Data collected over the 15 years of the 9/11 study represents a massive amount of never before available information on the short and long-term impacts of a search & rescue deployment on the health and behavior of the search dog.
The data analyzed in this project cover three areas: behavior, occupational hazards, and longevity. With the ever changing and improving methods for data collection, the research team has spent most of the time tracking, organizing, validating and preparing the 15 years of behavior data to be analyzed. The foundations of data for all of the analysis is now in place and the remaining missing data has been tracked down and entered for the CBARQ, retirement and longevity. Continue reading “Research Update CHF 02322 Mid-Year 4: Analysis of the Health, Behavioral, and Longevity Data Collected in the 9/11 Medical Surveillance Longitudinal Study”
Research Update CHF-02107 Mid-Year: Landmark Clinical Trial to Establish the Evidence-Based Use of Regenerative Medicine to Treat Tendon Injury in Dogs
Tendon injury is common, often progresses undiagnosed, and results in reduced function, lameness and pain in both companion dogs and canine athletes. Failed healing and recurrence frequently occur because unassisted tendon healing results in scar formation with inferior mechanical properties.
Research Update CHF 02661 MY2: Investigation into Diet-Associated Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs
The study titled “Investigation into Subclinical Diet-associated Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Four Dog Breeds” is progressing on schedule. Enrollment for the first part of the study is complete and we are in the midst of statistical analysis of the data in preparation for submission of a publication within the next few months. We are also following dogs enrolled at UF that have bloodwork or echocardiographic abnormalities for a year after a diet change is enacted, to determine if any of the abnormalities will improve with nutritional intervention.
Research Update Mid-year 3 CHF 02428: Identifying the Disease-Defining Autoantibodies in Canine Addison’s Disease
The goal of this project is to identify autoantibodies that are present in the blood of dogs who are newly diagnosed with Addison’s disease in three breeds: Standard Poodles, Portuguese Water Dogs, and English Cocker Spaniels. To accomplish these goals, we have been focusing on (1) collecting blood samples from dogs across all three target breeds, and (2) employing methods that allow us to detect these autoantibodies.
Research Update Mid-year 3 CHF 02519: Prevalence of Bartonella spp. Infection in Dogs with Cardiac and Splenic Hemangiosarcomas Within and Between Geographic Locations
We are on track to accomplish all of our aims for this study. We were able to obtain the initial set of samples on April 26, 2018 so we had a short delay in starting this study. We have now completed all Year I study aims, with the exception of immunohistochemistry and FISH localization of Bartonella organisms within various cell types. An unanticipated complication arose that the mouse monoclonal antibody was no longer being made commercially. B. henselae specific FISH probes have been designed and validation of FISH probes are in-progress. IHC is also in- progress. All qPCR and ddPCR have been completed at this time and samples are waiting for FISH and IHC analysis.
Research Update Mid-year 3 CHF 02488: Addison’s Disease and Symmetrical Lupoid Onychodystrophy in Bearded Collies Provide Common Ground for Identifying Susceptibility Loci Underlying Canine Autoimmune Disorders
Hypoadrenocorticism or Addison’s disease (AD) consists of a life-threatening clinical condition that afflicts multiple purebred and mixed breed dogs. The condition results from autoimmune destruction of the adrenal glands leading to life-long cortisol deficiency. Similarly, another autoimmune condition causing pain and suffering to dogs is Symmetrical Lupoid Onychodystrophy (SLO). For the study of AD and SLO we are investigating the Bearded Collie breed due to the relatively high prevalence of both conditions in this breed and a genomic structure favorable for identifying DNA variations.
Research Update End-year 1 CHF 02534: Clinical Trial for Evaluation of Propranolol and Doxorubicin in the Treatment of Canine Hemangiosarcoma
During the first year that the project has been active, we have made progress toward our objectives. The project goals have not been modified.
Our overall objective is to determine a clinically optimal dose and estimate the efficacy of propranolol in dogs with hemangiosarcoma when given as an adjunct to chemotherapy.
