犬貓遺傳資訊站

本文由 泡泡拔 翻譯於OFA網站

http://www.caninegeneticdiseases.net/DM/ancmntDM.htm

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Test for Degenerative Myelopathy gene NOW AVAILABLE!

DM基因檢測已可取得!

Dr. Gary Johnson at the Animal Molecular Genetics Laboratory and Dr. Joan Coates at the Comparative Neurology Program of the University of Missouri and Drs. Claire Wade and Kerstin Lindblad-Toh at the Broad Institute of MIT/Harvard and their colleagues have identified a DNA mutation that is a major risk factor for development of degenerative myelopathy in dogs. See the article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences for details.

密蘇里大學 動物分子遺傳實驗室的 蓋瑞．強生博士，比對神經學計畫的瓊安．考特絲博士，與麻省理工學院/哈佛研究所的 克萊爾韋德、克絲汀．林得布雷托博士，與他們的團隊，已經找到了與退化性脊髓神經病變(DM)，有主要風險相關的基因突變，論文發表在PNAS(註一）。http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2009/02/02/0812297106.full.pdf

A DNA test is now available for use by veterinarians, breeders and pet owners. This test is available through the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals). The test clearly identifies dogs that are clear (have 2 normal copies of the gene), those who are carriers (have one normal copy of the gene and one mutated copy of the gene), and those who are at much higher risk for developing DM (have 2 mutated copies of the gene). However, having two mutated copies of the gene does not necessarily result in disease.

這個基因的DNA檢測，現在已經提供給獸醫、繁殖者與飼主，檢測可以透過OFA協會取得。這個檢測可以清楚的分辨犬隻是否帶有致病基因（安全：帶有兩個正常基因，帶原：一個基因正常、一個突變）;也可檢測出犬隻是否為高風險群（兩個基因皆為突變），相較於前兩者有更高得到DM的風險。不過，不一定要兩個基因都突變，才會引發DM。

Dogs that have clinical signs and a confirmed diagnosis of DM have tested as genetically affected. A relatively high percentage of dogs in several breeds (including Boxers, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and Rhodesian Ridgebacks) have the predisposing mutation. It is important to note that there are a large number of dogs that have tested as genetically affected, but are reported as clinically normal by their owners. It may be that many of these dogs will develop clinical signs as they get older or it is possible that symptoms will never manifest in these dogs. Research is still needed to determine the frequency of the mutation in breeds known to have DM (German Shepherd Dogs, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Boxers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Standard Poodles). In the future, we may identify other risk factors in those dogs that have tested as genetically affected. Wise use of this test can reduce the incidence of dogs at risk for DM in the long-term, particularly if other low frequency risk factors are identified that can more easily be reduced. It is likely to take many generations to reduce the frequency of this disease in breeds with higher frequency of the mutation.

出現臨床症狀與DM確診的犬隻，都被檢測出有遺傳上的變異。許多犬種，相較之下有較高的比例，帶有先天的基因突變（包括：拳師狗、潘布魯克威爾斯柯基、乞沙比克獵犬、羅德西亞背脊犬）。不過值得注意的是，有多數基因檢測陽性的犬隻，在飼主通報下是正常的，這有兩個可能：1.多數這樣的狗要在年老時，才會出現徵狀。2.臨床徵狀可能永遠都不會顯現出來。

這個研究仍然需要持續去追蹤，其它基因突變在已知的DM好發犬種中出現的發生率（德國狼犬、羅德西亞背脊犬、潘布魯克與卡迪肯柯基、拳師犬、乞沙比克獵犬、標準貴賓），藉此在將來，我們或許可以找到其它的相關風險因子。

適當的使用這個檢測，長期來說，將能降低犬隻得到DM的風險，特別是若將來我們可以找到其它較低發生率的風險因子，相互配合，就能更有效的預防這個疾病。對在這個基因上，有較高突變率的犬種來說，可能要經過好幾代的繁殖篩選，才有可能降低DM的發病率。

As part of an ongoing collaborative effort by research scientists at the University of Missouri and the Broad Institute, a free DNA test is offered for dogs that have been diagnosed with DM, and for older dogs in selected breeds. Details are outlined in the RESEARCH section of this website.

若您想透過這個研究團隊的科學家，一起合作並付出您的努力，我們提供給被診斷為DM及以上幾個特定犬種的老狗，免費的基因檢測。詳細的研究細節在：http://www.caninegeneticdiseases.net/DM/resrchDM.htm。

This research was funded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation, American Boxer Charitable Foundation, Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America, Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States, French Bulldog Club of America, and French Bulldog Rescue League. To them and the many breeders, pet owners, and veterinarians who assisted, THANK YOU!

這個研究由AKC犬隻健康基金會、美國拳師犬協會、美國潘布魯克威爾斯柯基犬協會、羅德西亞背脊犬協會、法國鬥牛犬協會資助。謝謝所有提供協助的繁殖者、飼主與獸醫，謝謝你們！

註一：PNAS 美國國家科學院的期刊，對於分子生物學的研究領域來說，算是很不錯期刊