Mucopolysaccharidosis type VII in a German Shepherd Dog

A 12-week-old male German Shepherd Dog was evaluated because of a 3-week history of a progressive inability to ambulate. Clinical and laboratory findings included skeletal deformities, corneal cloudiness, cytoplasmic granules in the neutrophils and lymphocytes of blood and CSF and glycosaminoglycans in a urine sample (detected via a toluidine blue spot test). Enzyme activity and DNA analyses confirmed mucopolysaccharidosis type VII as a result of severe beta-glucuronidase deficiency; this condition had been identified in a mixed-breed dog (likely of German Shepherd Dog descent) that was reported 20 years earlier and caused by the same missense mutation. Because of the progressive nature of this disease, the puppy was euthanatized and all tissues examined contained evidence of lysosomal storage leading to marked cellular distention. Mucopolysaccharidosis type VII is only one of many hereditary lysosomal storage diseases identified in companion animals. It is important that clinicians recognize the typical signs of lysosomal storage diseases and are aware of the cytologic and urinary screening tests for mucopolysaccharidosis disorders. Furthermore, there are specific blood enzyme and DNA-based tests to distinguish the forms of mucopolysaccharidosis in affected and carrier animals.     

Hereditary cataract in the German Shepherd Dog

Primary hereditary cataract is recorded and described in the German Shepherd Dog in the United Kingdom. The cataract is not congenital, it is bilateral and progressive to a certain point and is unassociated with any other ocular abnormality. It is due to an autosomal, recessive gene. The cataract is compared to that described by von Hippel in Germany in 1930 which was congenital and non-progressive and due to a dominant gene. The two types of cataract are therefore dissimilar.     

遗传基因对德国牧羊犬被毛颜色的影响

随着德国牧羊犬在国内的兴起,德牧犬犬的外貌特征、被毛种类和毛色与基因遗传的关系已经变得越来越受重视.通过对影响犬被毛颜色色度的不同类型的黑色素,以及控制色素沉着的等位基因的深入分析探讨,了解不同位点基因的纯合子和杂合子对德牧犬犬毛色、虹膜、鼻子和眼圈的色素沉着的影响.旨在全面解答人们对德牧犬犬颜色差异产生的困惑.     

马里努阿犬和德国牧羊犬精液品质的对比分析

对马里努阿犬和德国牧羊犬的精液品质(采精量、色泽、pH值、精子密度、活力等)进行分析研究。结果表明:两犬种精液品质都符合精液冷冻、人工授精的使用要求。两品种犬间精子密度差异极显著(P0.01);采精量、a级精子密度、b级精子百分率差异显著(P0.05),其余差异不显著。通过综合比较分析,马里努阿犬的精液品质较好,其鲜精活力为0.93,a、b级精子百分率为92.93%;德国牧羊犬次之,其鲜精活力0.86,a、b级精子百分率为86.47%。本研究为有针对性配制和添加稀释液提供依据,为后备种犬的选留和繁殖饲养的相关研究提供可靠依据。     

Symmetry of hip dysplasia traits in the German Shepherd Dog in Australia

Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is a common and debilitating developmental condition of the canine coxofemoral (hip) joint, exhibiting a multifactorial pattern of inheritance. British Veterinary Association hip traits (BVAHTs) are nine radiographic features of hips used in several countries to ordinally score both the right and left hip of potential breeding candidates to assess their suitability for breeding. The objective of this study was to examine some aspects of the relationship between contralateral scores for each BVAHT in a cohort of 13 124 Australian‐registered German Shepherd Dogs. Goodman and Kruskal gamma coefficients of 0.48–0.95 and correlation coefficients of 0.50–0.74 demonstrate that the association between right and left hip scores varies between moderate and strong for BVAHTs. Principal component analysis of scores detected a sizeable left‐versus‐right effect, a finding supported by symmetry and quasi‐symmetry analyses which found that seven of the nine BVAHTs display significant marginal asymmetry. Dogs showing asymmetry for one BVAHT are significantly more likely to display asymmetry at other BVAHTs. When asymmetry is expressed as a binary trait (either symmetrical or asymmetrical), it displays low to moderate heritability. Estimates of genetic correlations between right and left scores are very high for all BVAHTs (>0.945), suggesting right and left scores for each BVAHT are largely determined by the same set of genes. The marginal asymmetries are therefore more likely to be of environmental and non‐additive genetic origin. In breeding programmes for CHD, we recommend that scores from both hips be used to estimate breeding values, with a term for side‐of‐hip included in the model to account for score variation owing to asymmetry.     

A Quantitative Study of Ganglion Cells in the German Shepherd Dog Retina

As in the number of mammals, the most prominent feature of the ganglion-cell layer in the retina of the German shepherd dog is the sharp increase in the density of ganglion cells in the central area. There is an area of maximum density and also a ‘cat-like’ visual streak, located dorsal to the optic disc. The isodensity lines of ganglion-cell distribution is roughly concentric. Their values vary from 5300-13 000 cells/mm² in the central area, with the cells densely packed, to 1000 cells/mm² or less in the periphery, where the cells are sparsely distributed. There were some individual differences amongst the animals studied, although all of them were pure-bred dogs. This suggests that the configuration of the retina in the canine species is not only dependent on the breed itself but also on some other parameters such as phylogenetic heritage, environment, aptitude, lifestyle, or even training.     

比利时牧羊犬

<正>我国的养犬爱好者,对比利时牧羊犬(Belgian Shepherd Dog)的认识多半是来自比利时马里努阿犬(Belgian Malinois)。因为自20世纪末期开始,我国逐年进口马里努阿犬,尤其公安、军队、武警、海关等行业,     

德国牧羊犬持久性右主动脉弓的诊治

2009年6月收治1条作为肉犬父本的幼龄德国牧羊犬病犬,通过临床症状观察、血液常规指标检查、主要病原检查和影像学检查,确诊为持久性右主动脉弓。对其进行胸部手术治疗,经术后护理该犬恢复良好。     

几种工作犬主要行为比较研究

德国牧羊犬与罗威纳犬是我国引进的大型工作犬种,这两个品种犬性情相近,应用的工作领域也大致相同.采用科学的测定方法,对决定其使用价值的探求、猎取、防御等几种主要行为性状以及胆量进行判定分析,以了解这些行为在不同品种、不同性别之间的表现差异,更好地为训练、使用以及科学研究服务.结果发现:在同一品种内,德国牧羊犬公母犬在防御反射、胆量方面存在显著差异,罗威纳公母犬防御反射存在显著差异.在不同品种间,罗威纳公母犬的衔取欲望均相应高于德国牧羊犬公母犬,并达到显著水平.     

Corneal pannus (chronic superficial keratitis) in the German Shepherd Dog

The clinical features, histopathology and treatment of corneal pannus (chronic superficial keratitis) in a series of eighty-four German Shepherd Dogs are reported. The aetiology of the condition and its therapeutic management are discussed in the light of these findings.     

Pemphigus Vulgaris Lacking Mucosal Involvement in a German Shepherd Dog: Possible Response to Heparin Therapy

Abstract— An 8 year old intact female German shepherd dog was presented with well demarcated symmetric facial erosions, ulcerations and crusting. Systemic illness was absent, and oral involvement occurred only late in the course of the disease. Skin biopsy specimens revealed suprabasal acantholysis primarily involving hair follicles and direct immunofluorescent testing showed intercellular deposition of IgG in the epidermis compatible with a diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris. The clinical signs in this dog were not adequately controlled by immune suppression. Therapy with heparin alone, or combined with prednisolone, appeared to induce a transient remission. Résumé— Une femelle Berger Allemand de 8 ans a été présentée pour des lésions faciales bien circonscrites de la face: érosions, ulcères et croutes. 11 n'y avait pas d'atteinte de l'état general et l'atteinte buccale n'est apparue qu'en fin d'évolution. L'examen de biopsies cutanées a révélé la presence d'une acantholyse suprabasale atteignant primitivement les follicules pileux et l'immunofluorescence directe un dépöt intercellulaire d'IgG au niveau de l'épiderme, compatibles avec un diagnostic de pemphigus vulgaire. Les symptómes n'ont pas pu être controlés avec une thérapeutique immunosuppressive. Un traitement à base d'héparine seule, ou associée à la prednisone, a permis d'obtenir une rémission transitoire. Zusammenfassung— Eine 8 Jahre alte, unkastrierte Deutsche Schäferhündin wurde mit gut abgegrenzten symmetrischen Erosionen, Ulzera und Verkrustungen im Gesichtsbereich vorgestellt. Systemische Krankheitssymptome fehlten, Veränderungen im Mundhöhlenbereich traten nur spat im Krankheitsverlauf auf. Hautbiopsieproacn zeigten eine suprabasale Akantholyse, die hauptsächlich die Haarfollikel betraf, die direktc immunfluoreszenzuntersuchung ergab cine interzelluläre Ablagerung von IgG in der Epidermis: Befunde, die mit der Diagnose Pemphigus vulgaris überenstimmen. Die klinischen Symptome bei diesem Hund konnten durch immunsuppression nicht adaquat kontrolliert werden. Eine Behandlung ausschlicßlich mit Heparin oder Heparin in Kombination mit Prednisolon schien eine vorübergchende Abheilung zu induzieren. Resumen Una hembra intacta pastor alemán de 8 años fué presentada con una erosión facial simétrica, úlceras y costras. El animal no sufría enfermedad sistémica y las lesiones orales ocurieron en el curso tardío de la enfermedad. La biopsia de la piel reveló acantolisis suprabasal localizada fundamentalmente en los folículos pilosos, y un test de inmunofluorescencia directa demonstró deposición intercelular de Tg G en la epidermis, compatible con la diagnosis de Pemphigus vulgaris. El cuadro clínico de este animal no se controló por medio de terapia inmunosupresiva. El tratamiento con heparina sola, o combinada con prednisolona produjo una remisión transitoria.     

Ventricular ependymoma in a German Shepherd dog

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) together with clinical, pathomorphological and immunohistological methods, a ependymoma is described in a 9-year-old German Shepherd dog, which presented with behavioural and oculocephalic responses and generalised ataxia. The ependymoma, 9 x 6 x 5mm in size, was localised intra-axially in the right interventricular foramen and hydrocephalus was observed by MRI. Microscopically, the tumour was composed of pseudorosettes, and immunohistochemical examination revealed vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity in the neoplastic cells.     

A Morphometric Study on the Skull of the German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian)

In this study, a total of 33 skulls of German shepherd (Alsatian) puppies between 45 and 105 days old were used. Animals were divided into two groups. Group 1 included puppies between 45 and 60 days old, and group 2 included those between 61 and 105 days old. In group 1, a skull weight of 36.95 g, a skull length of 113.96 mm, a maximum zygomatic width of 66.52 mm, a cranial length of 71.31 mm, a maximum neurocranium width of 52.11 mm, a viscerocranial length of 50.28 mm, a skull index of 58.43, a cranial index of 73.24, a facial index of 133.13 and a cranial volume of 55.38 ml were measured. In group 2, a skull weight of 61.17 g, a skull length of 143.38 mm, a maximum zygomatic width of 73.54 mm, a cranial length of 83.38 mm, a maximum neurocranium width of 53.70 mm, a viscerocranial length of 68.64 mm, a skull index of 51.44, a cranial index of 64.57, a facial index of 107.96 and a cranial volume of 75.75 ml were obtained. In order to determine the likely relationship, if any, between the indices and the other parameters, correlation coefficients were computed. It was found that all the measurements increased with age, while indices decreased, and an insignificant positive correlation was found between cranial volume and skull weight. The data obtained in this study may be of use in the consideration of the German shepherd type. For German shepherd dogs, which are a dolichocephalic race, it should be agreed that, in line with growth, the farther the values are from the mean value, the higher the defect rate of a puppy is. Also, the data may be of use in investigating the correlation between, for example, nasal cancer risk and the shape of the skull.     

德国牧羊犬与荷兰牧羊犬杂交幼犬行为特点研究

杂交是提高物种生理特性和行为特征的有效途径。近几年来,公安部沈阳警犬基地通过对存栏的德国牧羊犬和荷兰牧羊犬进行了杂交试验,目前已培育出一定数量的德国牧羊犬和荷兰牧羊犬杂交犬。     

Pituitary dwarfism in German Shepherd Dogs

Eleven German Shepherd dogs with pituitary dwarfism were examined. They were severely stunted in growth and possessed abnormal hair coats with persistence of the soft puppy (lanugo) coat and symmetrical areas of alopecia. Various other physical defects were often present in affected dogs. Detailed hormonal studies demonstrated a severe deficiency in growth hormone in all five cases so evaluated. A decrease in somatomedin activity was present in three of these cases. Changes in growth plates epiphyses and ossification centres were apparent on radiographic examination of four of the eleven dogs. Epiphyseal dysgenesis was confirmed histologically in two of these cases. Of the six brains which were examined post mortem, four showed large cystic lesions involving the adenohypo–physis and two had pituitary hypoplasia with virtual absence of adenohy–pophyseal tissue.     

Disseminated Scedosporium prolificans infection in a German Shepherd dog

Disseminated Scedosporium prolificans infection in a 1-year-old female spayed German Shepherd dog is described. Clinical signs were predominantly associated with fungal pyelonephritis and the organism was cultured from the urine. The dog was treated with itraconazole and later, terbinafine was added. Subsequent antifungal susceptibility testing of the isolate showed it to be resistant to all available antifungal drugs. The dog was euthanased because of acute abdominal haemorrhage and associated clinical deterioration. Postmortem examination revealed extensive pyogranulomas containing fungal organisms in the renal parenchyma, myocardium, bone marrow, skeletal muscle, liver, lung, spleen, multiple lymph nodes and pancreas.