Regalwin Australian Shepherds
International/Canadian Epilepsy Study
Dr. Roberto Poma and Dr. Berge Minassian have asked me to forward on information about a Pilot Project that has begun at Guelph University in conjunction with Geneticists at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto and the University of Helsinki, Finland. This pilot project has received funding to expand on clinical research into epilepsy in three distinct breeds, Australian Shepherds, Golden Retrievers and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.
This research is in collaboration with the CEN research currently being done by Dr's G Johnson and Dr. N Patterson at the Universities of Missouri and Minnesota in the USA.
Dr. B Minassian (Geneticist from HSC, Toronto, is in charge of theToronto arm of the International effort coming together to help identify canine epilepsy genes.
Quote from Berge...
"Gary and us are intimate close collaborators with completely open communications, sharing of DNA, sharing of funds, and very good friends! The Australian Sheppard epilepsy work is and should absolutely continue to be based at Gary's center!! Our task is to help him! If we can collect more DNA for his families here in Ontario, that's what we'd like to do.
One aspect of Gary's work with the Australian Sheppards is that for the most part, the affected versus unaffected status of the dogs is obtained from information provided with the DNA. There is an assumption that all those epileptic dogs have the same genes more or less involved. Gary's approach is that even if some of these dogs have epilepsies due to causes unrelated to the genes being sought, sheer numbers will overcome this difficulty and still yield the genes. Although this remains to be confirmed, I also agree that it is probably correct. Nonetheless, Gary, with our help has already started carefully going through the clinical information provided, and trying to select in the "genetic" cases, in order to better ensure correct clinical attributions towards getting the gene.
What Dr. Poma and we are proposing through Guelph is to take this a step further, and help Gary in this process. We wish to do a detailed clinical evaluations, including EEG,on some 10 affected with the "typical" type of Aussie epilepsy. EEG is extremely difficult in dogs, but a crucial element of determining the kind of epilepsy a dog has. We hope to make correlations between the clinically observed epileptic manifestations, and the EEG signature. This fine analysis of what constitutes the genetic epilepsy in the Aussies, will be extremely helpful to Gary and accelerate his work.
I hoe this resolves any misunderstandings. I will summarize: we are in the business of helping Gary find the Aussie epilepsy genes." Dr Berge Minassian
Below are the requirements for this Pilot Project as set out by Dr. Parent and with the agreement of the other physicians involved in the Guelph/Toronto arm of this study. This is a multi lingual project. French questionnaires are available on request to Dr. Poma.
This Pilot Project is a combined effort between:
*Dr. R Poma (Clinical Specialist, Neurology Guelph University)
*Dr. H Dobson (Clinical Specialist, Diagnostic Imaging Guelph University)
*Dr. J Parent (Clinical Specialist Guelph/Montreal University)
*Dr. B Minassian (Geneticist with the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto)
*Dr. H Lohi (Geneticist with the University of Helsinki, Finland)
The goals of this Pilot Project are multi layered:
1) Guelph University Neurology Department wants to further the research of epilepsy in these breeds. Defining types of epilepsy, clinical responses, clinical diagnostics and treatment of epilepsy in these breeds.
2) Guelph University Diagnostic Imaging Department want to set the diagnostic standard for canines that are suspected of having epilepsy. Through the use of MRI's and EEG's. Their goal is to define Normal versus Abnormal brain waves & MRI's in these breeds.
3) Dr. Minassian Geneticist with HSC wants to continue his research in finding the genetic epileptic markers in canines & the genetic correlation between human (child) epilepsy and canine epilepsy.
4) Dr. Lohi Geneticist with the University of Helsinki, Finland will be working with the Kennel Club of Finland to utilize the above breeds in Finland for this research. Again his goal is to find the genetic epilepsy markers in canines and correlate it to his research into human (child) epilepsy.
What is required from Owners/Breeders of Australian Shepherds in Ontario and Quebec.
*Needed are 10 Epileptic Australian Shepherds (alive)
*Owners must be willing to pay the $300.00 per dog up front fee to participate in the Pilot Project.
*Owner will supply pedigree and medical records to the physicians involved in the Pilot Project.
*Owner must agree to the initial clinical evaluations and any subsequent evaluations needed for the Pilot Project.
*Preference will be given to House dogs over Kennel dogs.
*Preference will be given to Owners over Breeders.
Dr. Roberto Poma DMV,DVSc,ACIM Neurology
Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Studies
Ontario Veterinary College
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
(519) 823-8830 ext 54129
Guelph University/HSC epilepsy Questionaire
1) Guelph University Neurology Department wants to further the research of epilepsy in these breeds. Defining types of epilepsy, clinical responses, clinical diagnostics and treatment of epilepsy in these breeds.
2) Guelph University Diagnostic Imaging Department want to set the diagnostic standard for canines that are suspected of having epilepsy. Through the use of MRI's and EEG's. Their goal is to define Normal versus Abnormal brain waves & MRI's in these breeds.
3) Dr. Minassian Geneticist with HSC wants to continue his research in finding the genetic epileptic markers in canines & the genetic correlation between human (child) epilepsy and canine epilepsy.
4) Dr. Lohi Geneticist with the University of Helsinki, Finland will be working with the Kennel Club of Finland to utilize the above breeds in Finland for this research. Again his goal is to find the genetic epilepsy markers in canines and correlate it to his research into human (child) epilepsy.
What is required from Owners/Breeders of Australian Shepherds in Ontario and Quebec.
*Needed are 10 Epileptic Australian Shepherds (alive)
*Owners must be willing to pay the $300.00 per dog up front fee to participate in the Pilot Project.
*Owner will supply pedigree and medical records to the physicians involved in the Pilot Project.
*Owner must agree to the initial clinical evaluations and any subsequent evaluations needed for the Pilot Project.
*Preference will be given to House dogs over Kennel dogs.
*Preference will be given to Owners over Breeders.
Dr. Roberto Poma DMV,DVSc,ACIM Neurology Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Studies Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1 (519) 823-8830 ext 54129
Guelph University/HSC epilepsy Questionaire