An Overview of Canine Inherited Neurological Disorders with Known Causal Variants

Abstract

Hereditary neurological conditions documented in dogs encompass congenital, neonatal, and late-onset disorders, along with both progressive and non-progressive forms. In order to identify the causal variant of a disease, the main two approaches are genome-wide investigations and candidate gene investigation. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals currently lists 418 Mendelian disorders specific to dogs, of which 355 have their likely causal genetic variant identified. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the canine nervous system phenes and their genetic causal variant. It has been noted that the majority of these diseases have an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. Additionally, the dog breeds that are more prone to develop such diseases are the Golden Retriever, in which six inherited neurological disorders with a known causal variant have been documented, and the Belgian Shepherd, in which five such disorders have been documented. DNA tests can play a vital role in effectively managing and ultimately eradicating inherited diseases.

Idiopathic Epilepsy Risk Allele Trends in Belgian Tervuren: A Longitudinal Genetic Analysis

“…This also may explain the seemingly disparate trends of decreasing risk allele frequency and increasing IE prevalence; if the common genetic causes of IE become more varied than the previously described high-impact loci, the response to phenotypic selection against the disease may increasingly be diminished in the face of increased heterogeneity. While using genetic tests for risk alleles may prove invaluable for disease management [58], the present study suggests that such selection will only be effective if loci beyond the CFA14 and CFA37 haplotypes are discovered and their interactions investigated thoroughly. Further investigation into the genetic basis of IE in Belgian Tervuren is crucial to improve the welfare of the breed and to give owners a tool to guide breeding decisions in the future.…”