Dépistage de la cardiomyopathie dilatée et de la fibrillation atriale chez le Lévrier Irlandais

Abstract

Screening of dilated cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation in irish wolfhounds In Irish Wolfhounds, dilated cardiomyopathy (over 25% of dogs) and idiopathic atrial fibrillation (approximately 1.6% of dogs) are frequent, serious, and irreversible hereditary conditions. To reduce their prevalence, the French breed club R. A. L. I. E. (Rassemblement des Amateurs de Lévriers d’Irlande et d’Ecosse) set up a screening programme designed to avoid using affected animals for reproduction. The protocol, based on the German model, includes three examinations to be performed by the veterinary practitioner : heart auscultation, two-dimensional and time motion echocardiography, and electrocardiography. The results must be sent to a reader who puts them in one of three categories : disease-free, equivocal, or diseased. The rating grid favours disease-free dogs. Unfortunately, no statistical study has yet shown a positive impact from this method. As there is no effective causal treatment and the genes responsible are still unknown, R. A. L. I. E is to be commended for setting up this breeding programme, even though it sometimes raised reservations.