The effects of dog breed development on genetic diversity and the relative influences of performance and conformation breeding

Genetic diversity was compared among eight dog breeds selected primarily for conformation (Standard Poodle, Italian Greyhound and show English Setter), conformation and performance (Brittany), predominantly performance (German Shorthaired and Wirehaired Pointers) or solely performance (field English Setter and Red Setter). Modern village dogs, which better reflect ancestral genetic diversity, were used as the standard. Four to seven maternal and one to two Y haplotypes were found per breed, with one usually dominant. Diversity of maternal haplotypes was greatest in village dogs, intermediate in performance breeds and lowest in conformation breeds. Maternal haplotype sharing occurred across all breeds, while Y haplotypes were more breed specific. Almost all paternal haplotypes were identified among village dogs, with the exception of the dominant Y haplotype in Brittanys, which has not been identified heretofore. The highest heterozygosity based on 24 autosomal microsatellites was found in village dogs and the lowest in conformation (show) breeds. Principal coordinate analysis indicated that conformation-type breeds were distinct from breeds heavily used for performance, the latter clustering more closely with village dogs. The Brittany, a well-established dual show and field breed, was also genetically intermediate between the conformation and performance breeds. The number of DLA-DRB1 alleles varied from 3 to 10 per breed with extensive sharing. SNPs across the wider DLA region were more frequently homozygous in all pure breeds than in village dogs. Compared with their village dog relatives, all modern breed dogs exhibit reduced genetic diversity. Genetic diversity was even more reduced among breeds under selection for show/conformation.

Possible relationships between canine hematopoietic neoplasia, other malignancies and immune mediated diseases

In the last ten years few retroviruses have been isolated. The reasons for this lack of new discoveries are obvious, most retroviral investigations have been directed to HIV, HTLVI and HTLVII research with little research attention given to other species that may have retroviral infections, such as the dog. The domesticated dog is particularly important to investigate because they live in close proximity to human beings and have done so for at least the last 14 thousand years (1). This report gives relationships between canine hematopoietic, other neoplasia and immune mediated diseases in two families of inbred dogs that possibly were also infected with a yet to be fully described retrovirus. These findings should lead to a renewed interest in studying retroviral infections in dogs. The heterospecies relationship of retroviral infections closely related to human AIDS virus is of obvious scientific importance.

Cisplatin for treatment of transitional cell and squamous cell carcinomas in dogs

Thirteen dogs with tumors were treated with monthly infusions of cisplatin. Complete responses were not observed. Of 8 dogs with urinary tract transitional cell carcinomas, 1 (12.5%) had a partial response of 31 weeks' duration, and 4 (50%) had stable disease for 12, 30, 32, and 34 weeks. Three (60%) of 5 dogs with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas had partial responses for 2, 10, and 15 weeks. All 13 dogs were evaluated for signs of toxicosis. Transient episodes of vomiting were recorded for 7 dogs (54%), and 2 dogs (15%) had mild thrombocytopenia. Although renal function gradually decreased in 2 dogs (15%), none of the dogs had an episode of acute renal failure attributable to cisplatin. These findings suggest that cisplatin may be a safe and potentially effective agent for treatment of transitional cell and squamous cell carcinomas in dogs.

Frequency and significance of feline leukemia virus infection in necropsied cats

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection was diagnosed immunohistologically on paraffin-embedded tissues obtained from 1,095 necropsied cats. Significant association of FeLV infection was demonstrated by chi 2 and Fisher's tests with various conditions and diseases (ie, anemia, tumors of the leukemia/lymphoma complex, feline infectious peritonitis, bacterial infections, emaciation, FeLV-associated enteritis, lymphatic hyperplasia, and hemorrhage). Unexpected findings associated with FeLV infection were icterus, several types of hepatitis, and liver degeneration. A negative association with FeLV infection was found for most parasitic and viral infections, including feline panleukopenia. Neither positive nor negative associations were established for FeLV infection and most forms of nephritis, including severe glomerulonephritis. Feline leukemia virus-infected cats were significantly (Kruskal-Wallis test) older than were FeLV-negative cats with the same nonneoplastic FeLV-associated diseases.

Production of monoclonal antibodies. The effect of hybridoma concentration on the yield of antibody-producing clones

The relationship between the number of hybrid clones in each well of the primary culture, the yield of antibody-producing wells and the short-term stability of the polyclonal cultures was tested. The results of the study demonstrate that a higher yield of antibody-secreting clones was obtained by employing lower density of hybrids and that instability of antibody secretion by polyclonal cultures is not the result of overgrowth of non-secreting clones.

Goat papillomatosis

The present study indicates that the development of caprine mammary gland warts seems to depend on several factors--namely, nonpigmented skin, adult age, excessive exposure to sunlight, and contact with a yet undefined infective agent. Three types of goat papillomas are described: mammary, cutaneous, other than mammary, and genital. Warts on animals lacking pigmented skin are more frequent in adult animals that live in areas where there is abundant sunlight. Mammary gland papillomas are the most numerous and occur in different stages: ie, goats with mammary gland papillomas that regress, never to recur, goats with papillomas that regress in the winter and reoccur in summer, goats with persistent papillomas of which some are from the group that had previous winter time regression, and goats that have progression of persistent papilloma to carcinoma. Saanen, Saanen crossbreeds, and goats of other breeds that lack pigmented skin and live in sunbelt areas are at high risk for papillomatosis. An infective agent was not defined even after electron microscopic, immunocytochemical, and DNA-DNA hybridization studies. Yet, there is high probability that an infective agent is involved, because mammary gland papillomas usually occur in the susceptible herd 4 to 6 months after an affected goat is introduced.