Amyloidosis

 

The Shar Pei Club of Great Britain is committed to working with partners, stakeholders and supporters to try to find a genetic marker for this heartbreaking condition.  Late last year the Club and The Kennel Club jointly funded the sequencing of a dog that had been lost to Amyloidosis (confirmed by Red Congo stain post mortem) as part of the Kennel Club's Give a Dog a Genome project.  Supporters, club members and the committee, raised a further £2,000 to sequence a second dog in the hope that we could move the research on and quickly find some clues into this deadly disease. 

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The genomes were sequenced by The Animal Health Trust and the results shared with SLU in Upsala, Sweden where Dr Jennifer Meadows is leading the work on this disease.

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We are now looking to sequence the genome of a long-lived healthy dog who was lost at the age of 15 to old age.  This dog has tested negative for Amyloidosis (by Red Congo post mortem) and had never suffered any Shar Pei or SPAID related illness or condition.  We are hoping that her DNA could hold some clues as to why to try and move the research forward.

 

How you can help

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If you would like to support us in our research and would like to either raise funds for us or donate towards the cause you can do so using the supporter button below.  You don't need to be a member of the club to help, you don't need to be in the UK.  If you have ever owned or loved this breed we would be grateful of your help.

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We are also looking to create a DNA/tissue bank from long-lived dogs for use in future research. If we are fortunate enough to find a genetic marker and develop a DNA test we will need control dogs to trial the test.  As we need to know the Amyloidosis status of the dogs in the trial we can only use DNA from dogs that have passed away and have been tested by Red Congo stain.  We are looking for owners of dogs of 12 years and over to take DNA swabs of their dogs now and to commit to having Red Congo done post mortem and possibly donating some tissue and/or blood.  Its a terrible thing to contemplate losing your dog but it is only through brave and selfless owners that we will be able to build this vital DNA bank.  If we don't start this vital work now, who knows how many years we may have to wait to have enough control dogs.

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We are working closely with our Breed Health Coordinator, Heather Morris and the Animal Health Trust who will store the DNA for the project. If you feel you can get involved and would like your dog to leave a lasting legacy, please contact us.

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Mast Cell Cancer

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The Animal Health Trust is also  carrying out research into Mast Cell Tumours in the breed. To aid this work, samples are needed.   

 

● A biopsy of the following tumours from ANY breed of dog: Glioma, lymphoma, mast cell tumour, oral melanoma, osteosarcoma, uveal melanoma

 

● A surplus blood sample from ANY breed of dog affected by a mast cell tumour or an oral melanoma

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● A cheek swab OR surplus blood sample from an affected dogs  

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If you are a dog owner or a vet and would like to submit a sample to help our research please contact us at oncologyres@aht.org.uk or call 01638 751000 ext. 1214.

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