Transcript Backcross Presentation

The Dalmatian
Backcross Project
A Presentation to The Board of
The Dalmatian Club of America
April 29, 2006
Fort Mitchell, Kentucky
Robert Schaible, Ph.D. * Mary-Lynn Jensen, Ph.D. * Karen Rochin
Stocklore Dalmatians
Woodwynd Dalmatians
SunRunner Dalmatians
There is nothing more powerful than
an idea whose time has come.
- Victor Hugo
Why Has The Time Come?
 The extent and seriousness of urate stone disease in the breed is
undeniable.
 Even with careful attention to diet and management, too many
Dals need veterinary intervention for urinary blockage.
 Treatment is painful for the dogs and very expensive for the
owners.
 It is not uncommon for owners and veterinarians to choose
euthanasia rather than surgery and a lifetime of daily
medication, prescription diet and constant monitoring.
Why Now?
 Twenty years ago, it was believed that urate stone disease
affected only a small number of middle aged male
Dalmatians.
 Recent research by Dr. Danika Bannasch, at University of
California Davis, and DCA Health Committee veterinary
liaison, Dr. Suzanne Hughes, has shown that many Dalmatian
males, and even females, have stones or debris in their
bladders at any given time. This is true of many Dals who
have shown no outward signs of stone formation.
 The level of Low/Normal Uric Acid (LUA) potentially
breeding Dals was at a critically low number such if
something wasn’t done now, LUA Dalmatian might have
become extinct.
Brief History of The Project
 The Dalmatian-Pointer Backcross Project was started by
Robert Schaible, Ph.D. a medical geneticist at the
University of Indiana.
 The goal was to breed dogs of Dalmatian type and
temperament, but with low (normal) uric acid levels.
 The theory was that the low uric acid dogs would be free
from the predisposition to urate calculi.
Brief History of The Project
 In 1974, a single male Champion Pointer was bred to a
female Dalmatian. One bitch from that litter was then bred
to a Dalmatian.
 Dr. Schaible continued backcrossing to purebred Dals,
selecting for Dalmatian type and low uric acid.
 By the fifth generation, the puppies had 31 Dalmatians and
1 Pointer in their pedigree.
 In 1981, the American Kennel Club agreed to register two
of the fifth-generation the pups, a male and a female.
Brief History of The Project
 The DCA Board of Directors had supported this decision,
but the registration became a very controversial issue
among the Club membership.
 A DCA membership vote opposed the registration and AKC
was notified. AKC let registrations of the original two dogs
stand, but rescinded the right for any of their offspring to be
registered.
 Since that time, Dr. Schaible has continued this project
almost singlehandly.
A Simple Genetic Explanation
 The mode of inheritance for uric acid levels in a Dalmatian is
like that for color. It is controlled by a single recessive gene (u).
 Unfortunately, while selecting for spotting pattern, early
Dalmatian breeders may have inadvertently selected for the
high uric acid trait, creating a breed with a uu genetic pattern.
 Common sense would dictate that this would be easily
remedied by breeding to a dog with the UU or Uu genetic
pattern to eliminate the uu (or high uric acid) dogs.
 However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no Dalmatians
who carry the UU or Uu genetic pattern other than the
Backcross Dalmatians.
How It Works?
u
u
u
uu
uu
u
uu
uu
With current, high uric acid
Dalmatian breeding (uu x uu), all
pups have high uric acid and are
homozygous for the recessive gene.
This is like breeding two liver Dals.
How It Works?
U
u
u
Uu
uu
u
Uu
uu
The Uu dogs will be
LUA Dalmatians
When breeding a heterozygous
low uric acid Dal, who still carries
the high uric acid trait, to a high
uric acid Dal, half of pups will
have high uric acid, and half will
have normal uric acid; but they will
carry the high uric acid gene. This
is like breeding a liver Dal with a
liver-factored black Dal.
How It Works?
U
U
u
Uu
Uu
u
Uu
Uu
When breeding a homozygous low
uric acid Dal to a high uric acid
Dal, all of the pups will have
normal uric acid levels, but will still
carry the high uric acid gene. This is
like breeding a pure for black Dal to
a liver Dal.
These pups will all be LUA Dalmatians. The pointer will appear in
their extended pedigree ONE time. However in the pedigree of the UU
homozygous low uric acid parent, the pointer will appear in the
extended pedigree TWO times.
How Do We Know?
 The current DNA test can distinguish HUA Dals from LUA Dals
and UU Dals from Uu LUA Dals.
 DNA testing is done using removed dewclaws. By using the tissue
that would normally be discarded there is no need to subject pups
to a blood draw or cheek swabs.
 Currently, the DNA test is followed with a urinalysis to verify that
the pups identified as LUA do indeed have low levels of uric acid in
their urine and the HUA pups have high levels.
 Two urine samples from each pup are tested. Technicians who
process the urine samples work in a completely different lab from
those that do the DNA testing and have no knowledge of the prior
test results.
How Do We Know?
 Additionally, Dr. Dannika Bannasch and Dr. Noa Safra, at UC
Davis believe that they are very close to identifying the gene
that causes the metabolic defect.
 Current DNA testing is funded by Dr Bannasch’s research.
Once the test is perfected, the cost is expected to be about $80
per pup, which is similar to the VetGen DNA test for color.
 Both the DNA test and the urinalysis to confirm the DNA test
are done well before the time the pups are placed enabling
knowledgeable decisions as to their possible breeding future
to be made.
Current Status of the Project
 Total Number of Backcross Pups born in 2005:
U-GrCh Stocklore Forrest Can O’Pee x Robinwood Glamour Girl (All BAER Bi)
LUA: 1 male patched, 2 females (1 patch)
HUA: 1 male, 2 females
U-Ch Stocklore Top Spot x Robinwood Hanna Dooright
LUA: 2 males (1 deaf), 3 females (2 patches)
HUA: 2 males (2 patches), 1 female (uni w/ 1 blue eye)
U-Ch Stocklore Top Spot x Ch Aberdeen’s Twlight Time (All BAER Bi)
5 LUA: 1male, 4 females
3 HUA: 1 male, 2 females
 Backcross hearing numbers appear to be consistent with
“regular” Dalmatian hearing ratios.
 Key dogs in the backcross pedigrees have lived to ripe old ages.
Show
Me
The
Spots!
First Generation
Hybrid
Stocklore Stipples - 5th generation, accepted into AKC registry
RFBCN Blackeyed Susan
daughter of Stipples
RFBCN Lidgates
Triever Watson CD
Son of Blackeyed Susan
RFBCN Helen
Tucker, Daisy & Cinnamon Stipples (daughter of RFBCN Blackeyed Susan & Ch
Sunspot’s Rambler Ottomatic CDX)
Snowdog’s Swiss Forrest
Tobler
(bred to Ch Forrest Douglas Fur)
Stocklore Squire of Britannia
Son of Stocklore Jacob’s Ladder
Stocklore Budgette Buster
Daughter of Squire
U-Ch Stocklore TopSpot
Son of Budgette
U-GrCh Stocklore
Forrest Can O’Pee
Son of Budgette
UKC/AKC Judge
Jeffrey Pepper
"A" Litter born 8/12/05
Sire: UKC Ch Stocklore Top Spot
Dam: Ch Aberdeen's Twilight Time
Missing photos of 1 LUA male pup
Bonnie
U-GrC Topper x
AKC CH Twyla
Bonnie
Bonnie
Bonnie
Bonnie & Friend
Bonnie
Layla
U-GrCh Topper x
AKC Ch Twyla
Layla & AKC Ch Aberdeen Time For Jessie
(littersister to Layla’s mother, Twyla)
Aberdeen Seeing The Forrest
U-Ch Opie x Vanna
What Could Happen Next?
 A formal DCA Board recommendation to the membership that
discussion on the backcross Dal project be reopened.
 The opportunity to inform the entire DCA membership with
ongoing information about the backcross project through The
Spotter.
 Formation of a DCA Backcross Study Group
 DCA member discussion/vote on the Backcross Project
 DCA recommendation to lift the AKC hold on backcross
registrations
 Provide the OPTION for breeders to incorporate AKC registered,
LUA dogs into their breeding programs should they choose to
 To someday lift the specter of urate stone formation from our
breed.
In Closing
There is nothing like dream to create the
future. Utopia today, flesh and blood
tomorrow.
- Victor Hugo
Pedigree of Topper X Twyla Litter – Aug. 12, 2005
Parents
GrandParents
G-GrandParents
CH Matchless Image of
Folklore
Stocklore Amber Sun
G-G-GParents
CH Folklore Louis
L’Amour
CH Matchless Telltale
Talisman
Stocklore Buddy
Bonderman’s Selena
Stocklore April Rose
UKC CH Stocklore Top
Spot
Stocklore Jacob’s Ladder
Stocklore Squire of
Britannia
Robinwood’s Apple Jack
Annie CD
Stocklore Budgette Buster
Stocklore Keynote
Stocklore Status Quo
CH Aberdeen’s Sawyer
Brown (L)
CH Aberdeen’s Back To
The Future (L)
CH Spotsalot In The Nick
Of Time
CH Aberdeen’s Twilight
Time
Am/Can CH
Roadpartner’s Billie
Holiday
CH Hi-Flyer’s Salem of
Aberdeen
CH Aberdeen’s Magic
Flute
Robinwood’s Apple Jack
Annie CD
CH Madurhason’s Yazoo
(L)
CH Aberdeen’s Measure
For Measure
CH Madurhason’s
Aberdeen
Spotsalot Mita’s Copy
CH Tuckaway’s Augusta
CH Countrywood Racy
Roadpartner RD
CH Aberdeen
Madurhason’s Caliban
CH Aberdeen Madurhason
Sonata
Pedigree of Franc X Joy Litter – due June 2006
Parents
GrandParents
G-GrandParents
CH Seaspot's Winston Of
Lidgate CD
G-G-GParents
CH Seaspot's
Swashbuckler
Greenmount Grevilla
Seaspot's Brandon Of
Lidgate CDX
CH Seaspots Celestial
Body CDX
RFBCN Lidgate's Triever
Franc CDX
RFBCN Blackeyed Susan
CD
CH Sunspot's Rambler
Ottomatic CDX
Tuckaway Traveler
Indalane
CH Majestic K'ls Dapple
Mcdot
CH Paisley's A Change Of
Pace CD
CH Royal Oaks Liberty
Bell
Stocklore BC 3 Son
Stocklore Stipples
Stocklore Star Of Montjuic
Am/Can CH Avalon
Taylor Made By Paisley
(L)
CH Satin’s Clown’n
Around CDX
CH Jazzy’s Black Satin
Dancer CD, CGC
CH SunnyOaks Joy For
SunRunner CGC
CH Rambler SunRunner
Beam Me Up
CH SunRunner Rambler
Gwendalyn
CH Hilary Dux of Rambler
CD, CGC
Am/Can CH Long Last
Perfect For Paisley
Am/Can CH Paisley n
Tucks Eureka
CH Fireman’s Freckled
Friend
Am/Can/Sts CH Bottoms
Up Hopelessly Devoted (L)
CH Royal Oaks Ragtime
Rambler
Rambler Kaleidoscope CD,
CGC
CH Sunnyglen Spencer For
Hire
CH Rambler Quintessence
CD, TT, CGC
Pedigree of Watson X Della Litter -- Summer 2006
Parents
GrandParents
G-GrandParents
CH Seaspot's Winston Of
Lidgate CD
G-G-GParents
CH Seaspot's
Swashbuckler
Greenmount Grevilla
Seaspot's Brandon Of
Lidgate CDX
CH Seaspots Celestial
Body CDX
RFBCN Lidgate's Triever
Watson CD
RFBCN Blackeyed Susan
CD
CH Sunspot's Rambler
Ottomatic CDX
Tuckaway Traveler
Indalane
CH Majestic K'ls Dapple
Mcdot
CH Paisley's A Change Of
Pace CD
CH Royal Oaks Liberty
Bell
Stocklore BC 3 Son
Stocklore Stipples
Stocklore Star Of Montjuic
CH St Florian Pisces
Jordache
CH Royal Oaks Ragtime
Rambler
CH Rambler
Quintessence CD TT
CGC
CH Rambler O’Brogan
Indelible
Am/Can CH Long Last
Perfect For Paisley CD
AKC/UKC CH Rambler
Literati Jewel Obrogn
Rambler Amazing Grace
CD
CH Fireman's Freckled
Friend
CH Saint Florian Sunspot
Ad-Lib
CH Paisley A Change Of
Pace
CH Royal Oaks Liberty
Belle
CH Sunnyglen's Spencer
For Hire
CH Long Last Solar Flare
CD (L)
CH Fireman's Freckled
Friend
CH Rambler Quintessence
CD, TT
Pedigree of Franc X Rue Litter
Parents
GrandParents
G-GrandParents
CH Seaspot's Winston Of
Lidgate CD
G-G-GParents
CH Seaspot's
Swashbuckler
Greenmount Grevilla
Seaspot's Brandon Of
Lidgate CDX
CH Seaspots Celestial
Body CDX
RFBCN Lidgate's Triever
Franc CDX
RFBCN Blackeyed Susan
CD
CH Sunspot's Rambler
Ottomatic CDX
Tuckaway Traveler
Indalane
CH Majestic K'ls Dapple
Mcdot
CH Paisley's A Change Of
Pace CD
CH Royal Oaks Liberty
Bell
Stocklore BC 3 Son
Stocklore Stipples
Stocklore Star Of Montjuic
CH Fiacre’s Wake Up Call
Am/Can CH Paisley’s
Pursuing Perfection
CH Fiacre Devilstar Style
CH Fiacre’s Calling Card
CH Sunshine BG
Firebuster Jones
CH Fiacre Hot Gossip
CH Fiacre’s Truth Or
Dare
Fiacre’s Little Hot Number
(L)
CH Snow Hill Sterling
CH Firebuster Gud
Humor Man
CH Fiacre’s Dare Me
Firebuster
CH Fiacre’s Femme Fatale
CH Firebuster’s Lolly B
Gud CD
CH Firebusters Oscar Dla
Renta
CH Fiacre’s First Alert