New genetic test is a breakthrough for Boxers -- and people, too

It's an invisible and insidious heart disease that affects human beings as well Boxers.  It's called arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, or in dog terms, Boxer cardiomyopathy.



And as of last month, its genetic secrets finally bent to relentless scientific research. The gene responsible for causing this disease in Boxers was discovered, and a genetic test for the mutation is now available to Boxer owners and breeders. From Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine:

WSU veterinary cardiologist Kathryn M. Meurs discovered a mutant gene in the Boxer breed that causes a type of heart disease that can be fatal in animals and humans.



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“Dr. Meurs’ discovery of both the gene and its location is a tremendous achievement in the cardiology of humans and animals,” said Bryan Slinker, dean of WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and a recognized cardiac disease researcher. “This achievement not only helps Boxer breeders avoid this disease but it also provides an extraordinary advancement to the study of human heart diseases resulting from electrical conduction defects and the resulting heart muscle changes that occur.”

Dr. Meurs' research was shared with other researchers at other facilities, allowing them to bring what was basically overwhelming force to bear on the disease:

Using an extremely powerful gene screening mechanism based on a massive computer chip at the Broad Institute at MIT with investigators Kerstin Lindblad-Toh and Evan Mauceli, Meurs looked at thousands of regions of boxer dogs’ DNA simultaneously. The samples were collected with participation by members of the American Boxer Club and the American Boxer Charitable Foundation and were segregated into groups of dogs with the disease and those with no evidence for the disease.



Once computer analysis identified a specific region of interest, Meurs’ lab evaluated thousands of DNA sequences in affected and unaffected dogs and identified a gene mutation in a gene that normally codes for the production of a key cellular adhesive protein.

This is extraordinary news for the Boxer world, as this disease claims far too many of these dogs. Props to the American Boxer Club for its support of this research, and for putting their money -- and their dogs' DNA -- where their mouth is in terms of improving the genetic health of their breed.



The DNA test is done using a simple cheek swab and costs around $70; it's available here. Read the complete release from WSU here.

Comments

[Deena]

Wow what a wonderful thing...I intend to test all of my breeding dogs, if all breeders STOP breeding those carring the Gene, it will virtually wipe out this problem in our Boxers.

[Gina Spadafori]

It's a stock photo from BigStockPhoto.com. You can find it and buy it for use there for a buck or two. :)

[Pam Zeiler]

While googling for Boxer photos I came accross this article and photo of the Boxer in water. Interesting article. Please can you let me know if this photo has a copyright on it or may I possibly make use of it in the Federation of Boxer Clubs of SA Newsletters?



REgards

Pam Zeiler

FBCSA Secretary