Hypercholesterolaemia in briards in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Elevated fasting plasma cholesterol concentrations were identified in clinically healthy briards. Biochemical investigations revealed no other major abnormalities. Plasma lipoprotein electrophoresis demonstrated a marked increase in the intensity of the α 2 band (compared with control dogs) which was reduced by dextran sulphate-magnesium chloride or sodium phosphotungstate-magnesium chloride precipitation of apo B and apo E containing lipoproteins in the plasma. The study has identified a hyperlipidaemia in briards characterised by increased cholesterol but normal triglyceride concentrations. The absence of obvious metabolic changes associated with secondary hypercholesterolaeraia, suggests the breed may have a primary abnormality in cholesterol metabolism. The increased density of the precipitable lipoprotein which migrates to the α 2 band suggests that the hypercholesterolaemia may be due to an abnormal accumulation of high density lipoprotein (HDL) possibly HDL c. The possibility that abnormality in lipid metabolism might play a role in the development of retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy in briards is currently being investigated.