Development of infrastructure for a systemic multidisciplinary approach to study aging in retired sled dogs

Abstract

Canines represent a valuable model for mammalian aging studies as large animals with short lifespans, allowing longitudinal analyses within a reasonable time frame. Moreover, they develop a spectrum of aging-related diseases resembling that of humans, are exposed to similar environments, and have been reasonably well studied in terms of physiology and genetics. To overcome substantial variables that complicate studies of privately-owned household dogs, we have focused on a more uniform population composed of retired Alaskan sled dogs that shared similar lifestyles, including exposure to natural stresses, and are less prone to breed-specific biases than a pure breed population. To reduce variability even further, we have collected a population of 103 retired (8-11 years-old) sled dogs from multiple North American kennels in a specialized research facility named Vaika. Vaika dogs are maintained under standardized conditions with professional veterinary care and participate in a multidisciplinary program to assess the longitudinal dynamics of aging. The established Vaika infrastructure enables periodic gathering of quantitative data reflecting physical, physiological, immunological, neurological, and cognitive decline, as well as monitoring of aging-associated genetic and epigenetic alterations occurring in somatic cells. In addition, we assess the development of age-related diseases such as arthritis and cancer. In-depth data analysis, including artificial intelligence-based approaches, will build a comprehensive, integrated model of canine aging and potentially identify aging biomarkers that will allow use of this model for future testing of antiaging therapies.

The first study on confirmation and risk factors of acute and chronic canine distemper in stray dogs in Wasit Province, Iraq, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction

“…The high sensitivity and specificity of ELISA were indicated by the detection of IgM antibodies and comparison of tested sera results with IgG antibodies. Immunological resistance and sensitivity of a dog to canine distemper virus are multifactorial, and the predictive value of antibody-responses or antibody-titers can be challenging due to variations in strain virulence, infective viral dose, adequacy of helper T cell-mediated immunity, immune-mediated cytotoxicity, and the persistence of memory cells [ 32 , 33 ].…”

A review of frailty instruments in human medicine and proposal of a frailty instrument for dogs

“…Morgan et al’s morphologic and mobility trials also assessed timed stair ascent and found that age was a weak but significant predictor of speed in this task as well ( 113 ). Other options that were considered as strength assessments, such as pressure-sensing chew toys ( 134 ), or systems that measure the strength with which a dog can pull against a measurement device ( 135 , 136 ), are expensive, have limited availability, depend upon the dog’s training and interest, or some combination of those flaws. The DAP FIDo will use timed stair ascent as our measurement of canine strength.…”

Canine Geriatric Syndrome: A Framework for Advancing Research in Veterinary Geroscience

“…Preliminary evidence supports a link between cardiac dysfunction and markers of chronic inflammation in dogs ( 123 ). An ongoing, longitudinal research project in aging sled dogs is investigating relationships between steady state circulating cytokines and several functional parameters related to general health, physical fitness, and cognition ( 130 ). This and future research should help elucidate the links between aging, chronic inflammation, and age-associated disease in dogs.…”