NEW INFORMATION -- DM
RESEARCH -- OCTOBER, 2007
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!!!!
NEW TREATMENT STUDY:
Three to 5 Shelties
are needed for a study to evaluate a new drug, Dapsone, which is
an oral medication found to be effective in the treatment of DM
in humans. These dogs would be donated to the study and then
altered, if needed, and placed in permanent adoptive homes
following the drug study. Please see contact information below
if you are interested in donating a DM affected Sheltie to the
study. It may be altered or intact, with or without
registration papers, as long as it is a purebred Sheltie.
Contact for Dr
Christine Rees, DVM and Sherry Lindsey RN BSN:
Dr. Christine Rees, DVM,
DACVD
979-845-2351
Texas A&M
University
CREES@cvm.tamu.edu
Small Animal Clinic
College Station, TX
Sherry Lindsey, RN
BSN
830-620-6661
PO BOX
310233
shalainetx@aol.com
New Braunfels, TX 78131-0233
* Biopsy
specimens: We suggest that DM biopsy specimens be
submitted to Dr. Joanne Mansell who is collaborating in the DM
research on Shelties. Her dermatohistopathology submission
form, complete with mailing address and cost, is on the DM
website,
http://www.shalaine.com/DM/DM.html ,
at the "Biopsy Information for Vets" page.
GENETIC MARKER STUDY:
Blood samples from DM positive Shelties are
still needed for the current DNA research
sponsored by ASSA. All you would provide is 6
cc of whole blood in a purple topped EDTA tube,
a copy of a 3-5 generation pedigree and a copy
of the dermatomyositis positive biopsy
diagnosis. This should all be sent over night
with a cold pack to:
Dr. Christine Rees
Texas A&M University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Department of Small Animal Medicine and
Surgery
College Station , TX 77843-4474
979-845-2351
Prior to sending the samples, it is
suggested you notify Sherry Lindsey, RN, BSN
at
shalainetx@aol.com or
830-620-6661 or one of her
colleagues to be expecting the samples. If
you explain the purpose of the blood draw,
most veterinarians will draw blood at no
charge or a reduced amount.
Thanks to all who support the DM research.
April 2007
ASSA and the Collie folks received a proposal from
Dr. Keith Murphy of Texas A&M regarding the identification of
the gene for DM. I will quote a very small portion of the
proposal we received from Texas A&M:
"Our laboratory carried out linkage studies in the Shetland
Sheepdog and identified a region of canine chromosome 35 (CFA35)
that may harbor a locus having an affect on the DM phenotype.
We have also generated a gene expression of DM in the Shetland
Sheepdog and identified more than 200 genes that are
differentially regulated in diseased dogs. We propose to
further investigate genes on CFA35, as well as genes of interest
identified using the expression data. Our goal is to (1)
identify candidate genes for DM and (2) develop a genetic test
for early identification of affected dogs."
The Collie folks had already put in half the money to fund the
study - roughly $40,000. The ASSA Board looked at pros and cons
of this study, including the fact that Texas A&M might find the
gene, might only find a likely marker or might not find
anything. However, Dr. Murphy's staff has successfully found
the genes for other breeds' diseases.
In the end, THE ASSA BOARD VOTED TO SPEND $40,000 TO FUND THE DM
STUDY BY TEXAS A&M.
This was the ENTIRE SUM in the health portion of the ASSA
Foundation's money. Donations to the ASSA foundation would be
greatly appreciated. For more information on the
ASSA
foundation click here.