Would you like diabetes with that dog today?

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1748-5827.2007.00398.x

An estimated one out of 500 dogs are diagnosed with canine diabetes, a condition caused by a deficiency in insulin. Certain breeds of ‘man’s best friend’, like the Labrador and Beagle, have a greater risk of developing this condition whilst some breeds, such as the German shepherd, have a naturally lower risk of inheriting the disease. Why is this?

Genetics is now explaining why such a separation exists by applying knowledge from human genetics. Canine diabetes is best illustrated as the equivalent of type 1 diabetes in humans. This association allows for a basis for genetic research to further understand the reasons for different susceptibility levels amongst the breeds of dogs in regard to diabetes mellitus.

Genes looked at in humans to determine susceptibility (major histocompatibility complex genes, MHC ) have an equivalent in canines (dog leucocyte antigen genes, DLA). Diabetic dogs and breeds within the diabetes-susceptible category have a strong association with a common haplotype (group of alleles of linked genes) of these genes. Another haplotype has a presence significantly reduced in diabetic dogs compared to non-diabetic dogs which suggests a protective characteristic.

Selective breeding in dogs has lead to a restricted DLA gene pool in many breeds which accounts for the strong distinction between diabetes-susceptible breeds and diabetes-resistant breeds and this predisposed nature should be acknowledged by veterinarians and owners alike.

Primary Reference
Catchpole, B., Kennedy, L.J., Davison, L.J. and Ollier, E.R. 2008.

Canine diabetes mellitus: from phenotype to genotype. Journal of Small Animal Practice. 49, 4-10.

Secondary references

Basic information of canine diabetes mellitus:
Canine Diabetes n.d., Intervet Schering-Plough Animal Health, viewed 23 May 2008, <

http://www.cat-dog-diabetes.com/dogs-diabetes-mellitus.asp

>

Definitions and explanations:

Type 1 Diabetes:
Type 1 Diabetes 2006, International Diabetes Institute, viewed 26 May 2008, <http://www.diabetes.com.au/diabetes.php?regionID=236>

Major Histocompatibility Complex:
Histocompatibility 2008, Medical Microbiology, viewed 26 May 2008, <http://www.cehs.siu.edu/fix/medmicro/mhc.htm>

Haplotype:
Haplotype 2008, Wikipedia, viewed 23 May 2008, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haplotype>

Student ID: 41753233