Researchers Study Genetics of Renal Disease in Dogs and Humans
Used with permission from Today's Breeder, Nestle Purina PetCare Company.

Researchers at Texas A&M College of Veterinary medicine are identifying the genetic mutations that cause Alport Syndrome in dogs. A disease that typically begins with nephritis, or inflammation of the kidney, Alport Syndrome progresses to loss of renal function and eventually death.
The research team is led by Keith Murphy, professor of pathobiology., DACVIM, professor of small animal clinical sciences, and includes three doctoral students, Rebecca Bell, Ashley Davidson and Virginia Groemminger, D.V.M., M.S. The researchers already have identified the mutation that causes an X-linked form of the disease in a missed-breed dog as well as the mutation that causes the autosomal form of the disease in English Cocker Spaniels.
The genetic defects that cause Alport Syndrome in dogs and humans are found in three genes that code for members of the Type IV collagen proteins. Alport syndrome manifests similarly in dogs and humans. In some cases, deafness and ocular abnormalities occur. End-stage renal disease eventually causes death.
The research team’s goals are to develop a genetic test for Alport syndrome in English Cocker Spaniels so that testing can lead to elimination of the disease in this breed through identification of carriers and judicious breeding, and to develop a method of gene transfer therapy that would provide a normal copy of the mutated collagen gene so that Alport Syndrome in dogs could be prevented.
If the research is successful, this approach possibly could be used one day to help prevent Alport syndrome in humans.