CYSTINURIA, p22 INCORRECT

[Les]

Having scanned through TML I was very surprised to see on page 22 that you could now carry out a DNA test for MASTIFF CYSTINURIA?!?!
This is of course factually incorrect as the DNA marker for Mastiff Cystinuria has not yet been located. You can carry out a DNA test for Newfoundlands but this would be completey pointless for a Mastiff. I can only presume that someone has misunderstood the available information on Cystinuria

Apart from that a sterling job!!!

[Tracey Atkinson]

Thank you Les, I will put a correction from you in the next TML.
Tracey

[Anne]

Also Tracey the third paragraph on Page 21 is misleading. "The use of chicken as part of a BARF diet has been blamed, the jury is out so far although there is some growing evidence." You can feed a dog chicken morning noon and night and he will not develop cystinuria. It is a genetic disease caused by the body not being able to process cystine, and cannot be caused by diet. What is being questioned is if feeding a dog with cystinuria a diet high in poultry can make that dog more likely to form cystine stones. Most dogs with cystinuria never form stones which is good for the dogs but means that the disease is not recognised as being the problem it really is. As Les says the information about a lab test carried out on a cheek swab is total poppycock and it is to be hoped none of your readers have already spent any time or money pursuing this.

I know you are reliant on the information you are sent being accurate - it is to be hoped that people will be sure to check their facts before writing.

In spite of the above - and let's face it - it has got people putting fingers to keyboards - an excellent edition of the Legacy, well done. Love the new layout.

[Les]

I was also going to comment on the chicken statement Anne and agree with everything you have said!

CHICKEN CAN ONLY ACT AS A PROPAGATOR IN AN ALREADY C+ DOG AND SHOULD NOT BE BLAMED FOR TH POTENTIAL CAUSE OF THIS HORRIBLE DEADLY DISEASE

(It should also be noted that CystinurIA is spelt incorreclty in both articles but now I'm just being pedantic!)

[Tracey Atkinson]

Hello, I spoke to a very nice man at the Labokin Lab today who tried to expalin to me the situation on Cystinuria and I thought I would pass on what I learnt (and keep my fingers crossed that I haven’t got the wrong end of the stick!) So here goes. Although there is a specific known gene for Cystinuria in dogs there are different mutations in each breed (hence the Newfoundlands being able to be tested as their mutation has been identified). The lab could carry out a test but if the test was clear this would not necessarily be correct whereas it would be correct if the dog tested positive. Obviously this is not very satisfactory.

He also said that if we know of a dog who already has the disease or is a known carrier then the lab would be interested in knowing this as they need a test subject to verify the Mastiff mutation. Can anyone help?

Tracey

[Les]

Dr. Paula Henthorn (Mastiff - Cystinuria Research)

Section of Medical Genetics
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
3900 Delancey Street, Room 4030
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6010
Phone number required for FedEx: (215) 898-8894

This is the person who is currently carrying out the research to locate the DNA marker in Mastiffs utilising many samples of C+ Mastiffs and has been for some time. I have also spoken to Liverpool University vets a while ago to see if they would be interested in carrying out UK research (they would happy to if somenone could fund them to the sum of a few thousand pounds!)

I had a boy (Winston) who had Cystinuria and got completely blocked with stones and had the urinarttract operation carried out to create a new passage (who unfortunately died from bloat quite recently). I have have spoken with Dr Paula Henthorn on numerous occasions in the past who was keen to have samples from C+ UK dogs (it would have to be sent by Fedex in a freezer pack which vets can provide). It is correct that there is a current test available but as you say, unfortunatley its non conclusive in that you can get a false negative although there is no such thing as a false positive. That is why we so desperately need to find the DNA marker but I think the way forward is to provide samples to Paula Henthorn who already is some way further in her research I expect...

There are many C+ dogs in the UK and I think if we are to bring them all together and send a selection of samples over to the USA this could potentially be the best way forward..it just need everyone with a C+ dog to stand up and be counted.....there are quite a few out there and this dreadful disease has the potential to spead like wildfire

[Anne]

Just to clarify a point or two. Blood samples are required to help locate the gene causing cystinuria in mastiffs. Urine samples are needed to diagnose the presence of the disease. I don't have a clue what the mouth swabs, as mentioned on page 22 of TML, are needed for. As an aside, whilst I have no reason whatsoever to question the integrity of the laboratory named in the article, a very quick search has failed to find any such company registered in the UK and nor have any accounts been filed - that I can discover with a very brief search. The address given is that of a semi-detached post war style house on an estate of many other similar house on the outskirts of Manchester. I would advise anyone wanting to have their mastiff tested and to help further research to put their trust and their money behind the UPenn research Les has detailed above.