The genetics of epilepsy in the British Alsatian

Abstract

Study of the pedigrees of a population of normal and epileptic Alsatians has revealed that there is a genetic basis for the condition in this breed, and that this basis is more complex than has hitherto been suggested. A preponderance of males is affected and there is strong evidence for additive factors determining the age at which animals first show clinical signs, and for the effect of one or more major genes. Only an objective test‐mating programme is likely to delineate the true mode of inheritance.

Retrospective clinical comparison of idiopathic versus symptomatic epilepsy in 240 dogs with seizures

“…This is comparable to other reports (Bielfelt et al, 1971;Falco et al, 1974;Jaggy and Bernardini, 1998), although the number of male and female dogs does not differ significantly between the IE and SE groups.…”

“…Idiopathic epilepsy has been described in many breeds: Beagle (Koestner and Rehfeld, 1968), Tervueren (Van Der Velden, 1968;Famula et al, 1997), British Alsatian (Falco et al, 1974), Golden Retriever (Srenk et al, 1994), Keeshond (Hall and Wallace, 1996), Labrador Retriever (Heynold et al, 1997;, Bernese Mountain Dog (Kathmann et al, 1999), Boxer (Nielen et al, 2001), Vizsla (Patterson et al, 2003), English Springer Spaniel (Patterson et al, 2005), Irish Wolfhound (Casal et al, 2006) and in mixed-breed dogs as well (Jaggy and Bernardini, 1998).…”

Inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters in the cerebrospinal fluid of epileptic dogs

“…3-5 Although inheritance appears to play an important role in the transmission of epilepsy in dogs, the precise pathophysiologic characteristics of the disorder are poorly understood. 1,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Proposed pathophysiologic mechanisms in human epilepsy include changes in neurotransmitter function, neurotransmitter concentration, 14 alterations in the expression of receptor or transmitter transporters, 15,16 and changes in function of ion channels or enzymes involved in neurotransmitter metabolism. 17 Although results a study 18 of neurochemical changes in epilepsy indicate that a decrease in the concentrations of γ γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the CSF may lead to seizures, and an increase in CSF concentrations of GABA may have anticonvulsant effects, the exact role of GABA during epileptic activity remains controversial.…”

Seizure Disorders

“…Pedigree analysis and breeding studies have determined an inherited epilepsy in a large number of breeds that include the following: German shepherd (Alsatian), 39 Belgian Turvuren, 126 keeshond, beagle, 35 English springer spaniel, 107 dachshund, vizsla, 108 Bernese mountain dog, 66 Irish wolf hound, 24 Finnish spitz, 127 golden retriever, 122 standard poodle, 75 and Labrador retriever. It is a diagnosis based on exclusion of all known causes of seizures.…”