Research reports are in for the grants we co-sponsor and exciting progress has been made in Canine Epilepsy research. What the researchers learn in one breed can help other breeds. Below is a report from Dr. Hannes Lohi who has had a major breakthrough.
CHF Grant Number 2248 – Toby’s Foundation co-sponsored this grant
Identification of a Novel Juvenile Epilepsy Gene and Its Underlying Disease Mechanism
University of Helsinki and Folkhalsan Institute of Genetics
Hannes Lohi, Andrea Fischer, and Fiona James
"We have made a major breakthrough in our epilepsy study in the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed. We have utilized an advanced wireless video-EEG approach in clinical studies to identify a juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) with characteristic phenotype, age of onset and photosensitivity. We have now also confirmed the discovery of a novel recessive JME gene and mutation in the RR breed. The entire study about clinical and genetic characterization has been submitted for peer review publication in high impact journal (PNAS, in revision). The confirmation of the genetic defect enables us to develop a genetic test for breeding purposes, and ongoing clinical and functional studies aim to improve our understanding how myoclonic seizures develop and how they could be better treated in future in the affected dogs."
