DCM Recently Discovered Two New Gene Mutations.

[strykerdobe]

Saw this on FB
The Expertise Center for Genetics Veterinary of the University Clinic for Gezelschapsdierien in Utrecht has recently discovered two new gene mutations in connection with the heart muscle disease DCM at the Dobermann.

Davy WertzNederlandse Dobermann Club​

IMPORTANT CALL!
The Expertise Center for Genetics Veterinary of the University Clinic for Gezelschapsdierien in Utrecht has recently discovered two new gene mutations in connection with the heart muscle disease DCM at the Dobermann. This important discovery is a very big step toward better health within our Doberman population.
The Expertise Center can only conduct proper research if it has as much genetic material as possible.
For this, the Expertise Center works closely with EMBARK.
EMBARK offers external DNA testing worldwide and therefore also has DNA data from many Dobermanns.
If you have DNA of your Dobermann(s) stored at EMBARK, we strongly ask you to release this DNA to the Genetics Expertise Center. You can do this easily via https://survey.uu.nl/jfe/form/SV_9n8jJzWF5pFR7Ho
If you want to have your Dobermann tested at EMBARK, you can request a test kit at https://survey.uu.nl/jfe/form/SV_bQ2fa4wSL2svIdo
The DNA data of your Dobermann will therefore be immediately available for scientific research at the Genetics Expertise Center of the University of Utrecht.
The DNA profile of each Dobermann, the more the better, will make an important contribution to prevent the severe heart muscle disease DCM and also other conditions in the Dobermann in the future.
In our first next newsletter we will inform you in detail.
Thank you very much in advance!

 

[JanS]

I stupidly ordered one but I already ordered one for Elroy at $159.

 

[Ravenbird]

The Expertise Center for Genetics Veterinary of the University Clinic for Gezelschapsdierien in Utrecht has recently discovered two new gene mutations in connection with the heart muscle disease DCM at the Dobermann.

Do you know if the research will give feedback on individual dogs or further finds in their studies? The link leads to a form where you give them your Embark info, but before I fill all that out I'd like to know more. I get regular emails and updates/sales/offers from Embark since I did the Embark panel when Asha was a puppy, but I've never yet seen Embark announce this study and their contributions or encouragement to share my info with this university. Someone commented on the FB post where I saw this post mentioned that "Diet related DCM is not the same as genetic DCM". I don't know if that person who made the comment found a way to delve into the study to come up with that comment? But if this is a study about diet related DCM, it really doesn't help the Doberman genetic version.

@strykerdobe do you know anything more than this post asking for Doberman Embark results? I just don't get how this could be a big breakthrough and yet I've not seen it in any other articles...

 

[Rits]

I'd like to know more information too. Someone asked what the markers were and no answers other than to contact the university. Its fantastic if more markers were found but I feel like there needs to be more information and transparency.

 

[strykerdobe]

Do you know if the research will give feedback on individual dogs or further finds in their studies? The link leads to a form where you give them your Embark info, but before I fill all that out I'd like to know more. I get regular emails and updates/sales/offers from Embark since I did the Embark panel when Asha was a puppy, but I've never yet seen Embark announce this study and their contributions or encouragement to share my info with this university. Someone commented on the FB post where I saw this post mentioned that "Diet related DCM is not the same as genetic DCM". I don't know if that person who made the comment found a way to delve into the study to come up with that comment? But if this is a study about diet related DCM, it really doesn't help the Doberman genetic version.

@strykerdobe do you know anything more than this post asking for Doberman Embark results? I just don't get how this could be a big breakthrough and yet I've not seen it in any other articles...

I asked this question to Davy. Asked for a published article on this research study found to read it.
Waiting for an answer.

Hypothetical question. Even if there are let's say 10 Genes found. What do we do if Dobes tested show positive for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or all 10!

 

[Ravenbird]

What do we do if Dobes tested show positive for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or all 10!

I don't think all Dobes would, but same advise (until more research proves better ideas) as what we have now. We have the genes DCM1 and DCM2 with 1 or 2 markers. If you have a male with 1xDCM1 and 0xDCM2, I would feel OK breeding him to a female that is 0xDCM1 and 1xDCM2 - no puppies would come up 2x on either gene. Obviously, since these two genes are not the whole story, this doesn't work, but it's a start. I'd do the same with any new proven associated genes. As we are doing now, try to take the "affected" dogs out of the gene pool, while trying to preserve the best working/show/temperament values. It's an uphill battle for sure. The biggest disaster in the Doberman gene pool was when they found the gene for Von Willebrands. Carriers were culled across the board when all they had to do was breed to a clear. They threw the baby out with the bathwater. Years to come there will be an answer, but whether too late, who knows? We can only do the best we can with what knowledge we have.

I'm happy to send in Ashas Embark if it helps this study, but I DO want to know what I'm contributing to before I do so. She tested clear on every single genetic test that are known including DCM1 & 2, yet a year after she was born her sire died of sudden death. So we try & try to do things right but sudden death is also heart related or at least artery/circulatory and very very likely hereditary and no test for carriers - what do you do? I had no intentions of breeding, but on paper she looks perfect. In reality she probably carries whatever causes sudden death because there is no predictive test for that.

 

[JanS]

She tested clear on every single genetic test that are known including DCM1 & 2, yet a year after she was born her sire died of sudden death. So we try & try to do things right but sudden death is also heart related or at least artery/circulatory and very very likely hereditary and no test for carriers - what do you do?

That's exactly right so there's a lot of mystery there that no one knows the answer to. I'm glad more research is being done all the time though.

We lost our beloved Phoebe at 2.5 years from a very rare condition that wasn't breed specific or genetic so you just never know.

 

[EricA]

That's exactly right so there's a lot of mystery there that no one knows the answer to. I'm glad more research is being done all the time though.

We lost our beloved Phoebe at 2.5 years from a very rare condition that wasn't breed specific or genetic so you just never know.

Agree very much.

Wish like hell I knew of a way to report having lost a Doberman due to DCM to someone doing the research.

 

[Rits]

Agree very much.

Wish like hell I knew of a way to report having lost a Doberman due to DCM to someone doing the research.

You can submit your dogs pedigree and cause of death to dobequest, which will help those tracing pedigrees to make conscious decisions. If you need to @JanS is a member and can input the info.

DobeQuest

 

[JanS]

I received this test kit today but Elroy's is already being analyzed at Embark, which is where this kit if from too. Does anyone want it?

 

[Ravenbird]

I received this test kit today but Elroy's is already being analyzed at Embark, which is where this kit if from too. Does anyone want it?

Maybe post this on its own? Surely someone would like to test their dog? It's always interesting at the very least.

 

[JanS]

Maybe post this on its own? Surely someone would like to test their dog?

I considered it but this thread sort of explains what it's all about.