Abstract
Genetic testing has been propagated as a suitable means to specify individual risks for canine hip dysplasia (CHD). However, the current lack of validation of most genetic CHD tests has left dog owners and breeders in the dark about their practical utility. Therefore, the Society for German Shepherd Dogs (Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde, SV) initiated a prospective study of 935 animals to assess independently the value of a genetic CHD test (European Patent Specification EP 2 123 777 B1) that was developed by Distl et al. (2009) on the basis of the SV animal stock. Dogs were followed-up for 3 years after birth, classified regarding their CHD phenotype using the scheme of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, and genotyped for the 17 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) constituting the CHD test in question. Individual SNP genotypes were combined into animal-specific genomic breeding values (GBVs), calculated as the weighted sum of SNP-wise scores as laid down in the patent specification. Logistic regression analysis revealed that, unexpectedly, the odds ratio for CHD decreased, rather than increased, by a factor of 0.98 per unit increase of the GBV. Nevertheless, since this effect was not statistically significant (95% CI: 0.93–1.03), and the area-under-curve of the test was only 0.523, it must be concluded that the genetic test patented by Distl et al. (2009) is unsuitable for individual CHD risk assessment.
Highlights
Traditional classification of canine hip dypslasia (CHD) is reliant upon phenotypic assessment, namely by radiography and Norberg-Angle measurement, of the hip joints of fullgrown animals
In a three years prospective study of nearly 1000 animals, we have evaluated and shown invalid a prognostic, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)-based test for canine hip dysplasia (CHD) that was patented [2] based upon data from a previous scientific publication [3]
The test has since been propagated to various potential clients as a suitable means of animal selection in practical breeding, including the German Society for German Shepherd Dogs (SV) who acted as main sponsor of the present study
Summary
Traditional classification of canine hip dypslasia (CHD) is reliant upon phenotypic assessment, namely by radiography and Norberg-Angle measurement, of the hip joints of fullgrown animals. Drawing upon the outcome of these examinations, most European breeding organizations have adopted a classification scheme established by the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) that specifies five grades of CHD severity (A-E). Class A corresponds to dogs with no signs of hip dysplasia whereas class E indicates presence of severe hip dysplasia. The classification process is laborious and costly but currently represents the only means to acquire useful information for animal selection aimed at reducing the incidence of CHD.
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