Canine Epilepsy gene identified!

[lezzpezz]

Will be sending Rosie's samples in!! Hey if I can help cure this, why not!!

UPDATED MARCH 2006: Dr. Yuri F. Melekhovets, Laboratory Director
of HealthGene Corp., Toronto, Canada, has announced that his group has
located the gene responsible for producing inherited epilepsy in
canines.
HealthGene Corporation is the largest private veterinary DNA diagnostic
and research laboratory in Canada. DNA-based testing for animal
infectious and genetic diseases.

HealthGene now is studying the various mutations that produce different
forms of epilepsy in different breeds. Dr. Melekhovets requests that
owners of dogs with epilepsy submit blood samples to further that
research.

Samples should come from dogs which have been medically diagnosed
with epilepsy or have had symptoms of epilepsy for at least two years.
Two vials of blood samples per dog should be sent in lavender topped
tubes, together with a pedigree and brief health history

(whether it has seizures, when they started, whether they are mild or
severe, and what type of diagnostics have been performed).

Send the samples by FedEx, using HealthGene's account number
(#238368138), using FedEx's International Air Waybill with the
following information for "Shipment Information":
a) Commodity description: "Canine Blood Samples for DNA Testing";
b) Total Declared Value for Customs is $1.00;
c) international first; and
d) 3 copies commercial invoice.

Send the vials to this address:
HealthGene Laboratory
2175 Keele Street
Toronto, Ontario M6M 3Z4 Canada
Dr. Melekhovets may be contacted at:
telephone: 905-669-5399; fax: 905-669-2235; email: dr.melekhovets@...
Source http://www.cavalierhealth.org/epilepsy.htm

[Prin]

So there you go- anybody with dogs with epilepsy, send him your blood. The more samples they get, the better the results will be.

[Keenbrunette]

Unfortunately, this information is not true

Dr Melekhovets has not isolated the gene, however, he is working on a correlation between breeds and between severities, and welcomes samples from dogs with definitely diagnosed Idiopathic Epilepsy (IE), and to please call him first.
He said anyone with a confirmed epileptic dog should call
1-877-371-1551 and he will talk to people to see if their dogs are
confirmed epileptics (IE) on a case by case basis.
Dr Melakhovets also stated that when the marker is found, ALL
information will be sent to everyone who participated.

[lezzpezz]

a followup email was sent my way and it states:

"Rather, they have discovered ONE gene that causes ONE specific form of epilepsy in daschunds...."

and goes on to say that this discovery is taken quite out of context...and that the existing research makes it likely that certain epilepsies in dogs will soon be mapped....


didn't mean to get everyone all in a lather with a possible cure for epilepsy! Just sharing what was sent to me! Perhaps someday, there will be a cure!

[Prin]

But just the fact that they proved there was a distinct genetic link is still a major step.

[lezzpezz]

In my gung-ho state to help cure my dog's epilepsy, I wrote the good Dr. and he replied!!

Here it is:

Dear Lezzpezz :

To evaluate your case for our epilepsy research, please answer the following questions (all information is strictly confidential):

1) dogs name
2) dogs age
3) dogs sex
4) How do you know your dog has epilepsy? Who did diagnosis?
5) At what age did the dog start seizing?
6) Please describe your dogs seizures (duration, severity, how often etc.)
7) Do any of your dogs littermates have seizures? If yes, how many?
8) What drugs has the dog been treated with and what is the current treatment?
9) Is this dog still seizing on drugs?

Please email back your answers.

Best Regards,
Dr.Melekhovets

Needless to say, I don't have answer to question 7, as Rosie is from an accidental litter with no papers given to the original owners who I purchased her from. I only found out about the seizures a wee bit later when she had a grand mal tonic clonic blow out! I called the vet that had treated Rosie before, (a good guess on my part!) only to be told that the owners failed to disclose her epilepsy to me or any prospective buyer...I was the first!) and they didn't want to persue due to cost so they decided to dump her! The vet was fuming and contacted the original owners, who sheepishly offered our money back. I flatly refused! She's my girl now:love: I guess it's a case of buyer beware, but if you're lied to, that's another kettle of fish.

So, do you think I should persue this in light of the fact that it isn't really a cure persay, but a step in the right direction?? What have I got to lose?

[goldenblaze]

Anyone living with a dog with epilepsy will do anything they can to help their poor pet, I know this as my blaze had another seizure and I can tell you it is hell to watch.

Worse thing ever is there is nothing you can do to help but wait and hope it doesn't last too long and the dog comes out of it quick.

Blaze has his seizures while sleeping, it's hard to know when they will come next. He can never be left alone with the other dogs as it is not safe for him or them, just one more thing to deal with but I would not trade him for anything in this world. Blaze is a special needs dog and we are here for the long term.