Overview
Canine Genetic Testing have partnered with MyDogDNA™ (Powered by Wisdom Panel) to deliver this test.
Canine Atopic Dermatitis (cAD) is an allergic skin condition associated with chronic itching and secondary infections in dogs. Estimates suggest that cAD affects up to 10-30% of dogs and is a condition that has no known cure.
The main feature of cAD is itchy skin which usually starts before 3 years of age and can have a seasonal or year-round pattern. Itchiness in dogs can present as excessive scratching, licking, nibbling, chewing, rubbing and head shaking. In cAD, this itch is usually focused on the underside of the tummy, armpits, paws, ears and face. Over time, as the itch persists, other changes to the skin can be seen such as redness, spots, hair loss, scabs, darkening and thickening of the skin. These skin changes can also predispose dogs to secondary bacterial and yeast infections which can increase and continue the itch-scratch cycle. cAD is a chronic skin disease which has no cure and relies on life-long management to improve the quality of life for these dogs.
Wisdom Panel™ has recently identified a variant in SLAMF1, an immune system-associated gene, that is associated with increased likelihood of a dog developing atopic dermatitis. The variant has been found in many dog breeds and has currently been validated for DNA testing in the French Bulldog and Boxer breeds.
The frequency of the SLAMF1 variant is very high in both the French Bulldog and Boxer breeds. On one hand, this means there is potentially a high gain to be made by breeding away from the variant to reduce the incidence of cAD. On the other hand, there is a risk that genetic diversity may be significantly reduced if breeders attempt to eliminate variant too quickly.
It is therefore important to consider breed-wide diversity in an individual kennel’s breeding programme and for this reason, the test for the cAD variant is bundled with MyDogDNA™, powered by Wisdom Panel™, for the purposes of protecting genetic diversity. Test results will include a dog’s SLAMF1 genotype as well as results for over 270 genetic diseases, 50 trait tests, and genetic diversity.