New Tests and Panels for the Doberman Pinscher and Friesian Horse
It has been a busy summer at the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory! We are pleased to unveil new tests and health panels for both the Doberman Pinscher and the Friesian horse.
The Doberman Pinscher Health Panel includes three newly launched genetic health tests specific to the breed:
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy 1 and 2 (DCM1 & DCM2)
- Doberman Narcolepsy
- Deafness with Vestibular Dysfunction (DVD), aka DINGS
as well as tests for degenerative myelopathy (DM), von Willebrand disease type 1 (vWD-1), and oculocutaneous albinism (OCA).
The Friesian Health Panel features three tests for genetic diseases found in the Friesian horse: hydrocephalus, dwarfism, and a new test for Distichiasis. Distichiasis is an ocular disorder characterized by eyelashes that grow from abnormal positions along the edge of the eyelid, often leading to corneal irritation and damage.
The genetic variant associated with distichiasis in the Friesian was recently identified by an interdisciplinary team of equine ophthalmologists and researchers led by the VGL's own Dr. Rebecca Bellone. Undergraduate intern Erin Hisey assisted in conducting this study as a recipient of the Provost Undergraduate Research Fellowship and also received an honorable mention for the 2019 UC Davis Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research. The manuscript describing the distichiasis associated variant is currently under review for publication, and we will provide a link when it becomes available.
All new tests and panels can be found at the links below: