[Keith Stroyan]

Keith, Can you please type a brief summary of how folks can do this?

Unfortunately, many folks want the test but don't feel they have the time to go out of their way to participate.

I know I'm heading into the vet for overdue shots and could easily have some blood drawn.

The study is being done at the U of Minnesota in collaboration with the U of Sask. They need blood samples from both affected and un-affected dogs in order to locate the gene(s?) responsible. I keep bringing this up because I think EIC is a serious threat to the health of field Labs and, with our cooperation, it looks like a test can be developed for carriers. (Like the breakthru in CNM.)

Please help them. If you're in for annual shots, just have your vet draw some blood.

It is easy to participate, just email for the forms: [email protected]
It would be best to include your dog's sire and dam in the email.

Thanks from me and my Labrabuddies.

 

[meleagris]

Keith:

We're going to do it when we take the pups in for the CNM screening next week.

John
________
Colorado Marijuana Dispensaries

 

[Pete]

Kieth thanks for the info. I see alot of dogs with this problem and being able to identify this gene would save a whole lot of heart aches for people who by field dogs for hunting dogs. Only to find out their dog which has a lot of time invested must go into a preadolecent retirement.

 

[Targander]

Question:

How do we "truly" know that any pup/dog has this condition, when samples are being sent? It mimics (in some cases) symptoms of CNM, Hypoglycemia as well as Epilepsy.

Will it matter in the study of EIC, if samples are sent on an "opinion" or guess, if in fact, they do not?

Just a thought.

 

[Keith Stroyan]

Will it matter in the study of EIC, if samples are sent on an "opinion" or guess, if in fact, they do not?

I'd say it's best to send that information with your email when you get the forms. Fill 'em out the best you can and let the researchers sort it out.

All mine were un-affected - no symptoms like that at all, but they were very interested in their pedigrees, so I guess their relatives are suspects. Don't know which ones, don't care. Let's get a test and sort it out from facts...

 

[KJB]

I emailed the listed address a while back and told them I have 2 field bred young dogs who have not had any issues similar to EIC, nor am I aware of any littermates or ancestors with EIC. The guy who answered me said they want blood from both affected and unaffected dogs.
Tina

 

[Dogguy]

That?s correct researchers need blood from unaffected dogs as well as effected dogs for comparisons, they have blood from confirmed EIC dogs that have produced episodes in a controlled setting.

Targander if you have or have seen a dog with EIC it is unlike any other condition (CNM, Hypoglycemia, Epilepsy) know regardless of what you here, EIC has very classic symptoms. EIC can be induced and once observed in a particular dog can be predicted by observing the certain activities in combination with stimuli that triggered the episode.

I will post a brief video in the next week (still having trouble uploading) of my dog at the onset of an EIC episode; it is rather scary to see.

Michael

 

[Kris Hunt]

Question:

How do we "truly" know that any pup/dog has this condition, when samples are being sent? It mimics (in some cases) symptoms of CNM, Hypoglycemia as well as Epilepsy.

Will it matter in the study of EIC, if samples are sent on an "opinion" or guess, if in fact, they do not?

Just a thought.

I have had dogs with EIC and I currently have a dog with epilepsy, trust me, there is no confusing the two.

Kris

 

[Brad B]

So they want blood from any lab they can get right ? Even if they are not affected. And even if we don't plan to breed them ? I don't mind sending my 2 in, just don't want to send them stuff they don't need. And I'll be glad to urge every one I know with labs if they just need more samples.

I would like to see the video of your dog too, dogguy.

 

[Emily Faith]

Not to be argumentative, but I have seen nothing to indicate that this so called "study" is seeking anything but pedigrees for dogs alleged to have this problem. To my knowledge, they are doing no research on blood samples sent in to them. Furthermore, when I called to offer any samples they might want from any or all of my dogs, they told me they were not interested. I would verify what is actually being done by this group before I wasted money on getting blood drawn and sent to them.

The research don to idolate the DNA variation for CNM involved things like test breeding and real scientific testing. They didn't collect pedigrees of dogs with totally normal test results to call them "carriers". Grouping the "EIC Study" with the work done to identify the cause of myopathy that lead to a test for carriers is like comparing a Phd to a GED.

 

[Dogguy]

Emily here is a copy of an email received back in Aug05 from the head DNA Researcher at UM. I was later contacted and received paperwork to fill out and instruction on submitting a blood sample.

Dr. Mickelson and Dr. Taylor have been very informative with prompt replies to all my emails. If anyone has a question on the research they are doing, I would suggest just dropping them an email.

Michael,

Thank you very much for this message. We really do appreciate your interest and concern.

I hope you will appreciate that our confidentiality agreements to do allow us to identify other dogs in our studies.

We would greatly appreciate your considering participation in our research study. I am forwarding your information on to Ms Katie Minor who works in my laboratory on the EIC genetics. She will be sending you additional information and participation forms. If you agree and are comfortable with the situation, we would love to have pedigree information and samples, perhaps a copy of the video, as well as contact information from owners of dogs he is related to.

Looking forward to hearing back from you.

Sincerely,

------------------------
Jim Mickelson
Professor
Veterinary Biosciences
University of Minnesota
295f AS/VM
1988 Fitch Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108

Office phone: (612) 624-1246
Lab phone: (612) 624-5322
FAX: (612) 625-0204

 

[Aussie]

Not to be argumentative, but I have seen nothing to indicate that this so called "study" is seeking anything but pedigrees for dogs alleged to have this problem.

Along those lines, heck, check what labs Sue Taylor is keeping to run herself.

Before the PRA test was developed pedigree analysis was used extensively in Guide Dog breeding colonies.

PRA/CNM/EIC are all supposed to be autosomal recessive.

Everyone of us, should be happy to send whatever the researchers request.

 

[DSO]

I used the link provided in the 1st post and got the forms emailed back to me promptly. I used the email address provided with the forms to answer a few questions that I had and it all seemed pretty legit to me. My boy doesn't show any symptoms (thank God) but I think it's the least we can do to get a handle on this nasty affliction.

Danny

 

[Emily Faith]

Again, I offered and was told they had no interest in my sending any samples. Of course, I don't have any dogs that are afflicted with any symptoms, so I assume that is why. It was my understanding, in actually talking to someone at the university study laboratory, that they don't just want samples from any lab. While I had been told that a relative of some of my dogs was afflicted, they still told me they didn't want samples from any of my dogs. The point being, that sending blood samples of your dogs is not only not "the least a breeder can do", as some have implied, but it is pointless and not wanted.

 

[Brad B]

I don't understand Emily, I contacted them and expressly told them that none of my dogs were exhibiting signs and asked if they still wanted samples from them and they said yes. I guess we are getting a example of the right hand not knowing about the left hand....

 

[JusticeDog]

I just sent an email........I'll see what I get back. None of mine are affected (thank goodness).

I still think some dogs symptoms are so germaine to other things, So how are they sorting all of that out...... maybe the forms will tell me.

 

[JusticeDog]

Hi Susan,
We are also looking for dogs that are unaffected and unrelated to
affecteds. We need a broad population base to make the comparison. We
would be happy to receive samples from your dogs.
Katie




On 17 Jan 2006, Susan wrote:
> Katie-
>
> It looks as if you want only blood samples from unaffected dogs that
> have relatives with symptoms of EIC, is that correct=3F My dogs have no
> known traits, nor do any littermates, etc. =20
>
> Do you need samples of that nature=3F =20
>
> -----Original Message-----
> =46rom: minork [mailto:[email protected]]=20
> Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 2:10 PM
> To: Bledsoe,Susan G
> Subject: Re: EIC study
>
> Hi Susan,
> Thanks so much for your willingness to help with our study. I've
> attached
> the necessary forms for you. If none of your dogs have EIC, we do not
> need
> the questionnaire filled out, I've just included it for your information
> on
> things to look for. If you have any questions, please let me know.
> Katie =20
>

 

[Katie Minor]

EIC Research

Hi, I'm the one currently doing the research at the U on EIC. I have been working full time on this project for two years now. I hope if I'm the one you talked to I didn't make it sound like we were not interested in getting samples from your dogs. We are interested in obtaining samples from as many labradors as we can get.

We are conducting a genome scan with the blood samples we receive, that works out to about 500 tests on each sample. Not all dogs will be immediately be tested. We have complied a pedigree for the initial scan (we have to use the same dogs all the way through). As areas of interest begin to appear we add more dogs into the tests to help us confirm or toss out areas that are showing hot spots. We've found some very promising ones. I'm actually going to be testing several more dogs soon. When the area is confirmed all dogs that we have will be tested to validate our test. Results will then be given to the owners.

The reason we need the pedigrees from every sample is simply because that is the information used to generate data for our tests. Based on the pedigree and the affection status of all members of the pedigree a number is generated for how likely the gene of interest is in the area tested.

We need unaffected dogs to compare what genotype a normal dog has vs. an affected dog. Also, often normal dogs do have dogs who are carriers of EIC in their pedigree and the owner is unaware of this.

I hope this has answered some of the questions regarding what we are working on.

Katie

 

[jon gallops]

Thanks for the info Katie
Hope you will stop by sometimes and keep the retriever world updated.

 

[achiro]

Can someone please tell me how "they" are confirming the validity of the owners claims? Most vets have never heard of eic, let alone know how to diagnose it? How many misdiagnosed dogs, or dogs with eic that haven't shown outward signs added as non affected dogs, will it take to skew the research?