In 1997 the Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America helped Penn Vet start an Open Registry, which lists dogs affected with familial diseases common to this breed such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), protein-losing nephropathy (PLN), combination PLE/PLN, Addison's disease (AD), and juvenile renal disease/renal dysplasia (JRD). The 2009 update lists almost 1000 affected dogs, with the vast majority affected with PLN, PLE, or PLE/PLN, in that order. These protein-losing diseases have had a devastating impact on the Soft-coate Wheaten Terrier breed because: 1) there are no predictive tests, just annual screening tests, 2) there is no age limit, so dogs might be used for breeding before they show illness, and 3) the mode of inheritance is unknown and appears complex.

The Penn Vet Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier DNA Bank contains more than 500 blood or tissue samples from affected dogs as well as geriatric (14 years or older) non-affected Wheatens. Most affected samples are from confirmed PLE and/or PLN cases, with diagnosis documented by blood, urine, and histopathology test results.

The proposed study will utilize SNP chip and genome-wide association analysis to identify chromosomal regions that are associated with these serious diseases. Further testing (fine-mapping) of regions of interest may then reveal specific mutations, deletions, or insertions, which could be used to identify carriers of disease-predisposing alleles. We also hope to learn more about the pathogenesis of these diseases (immune-dysregulation vs. structural/functional abnormalities), which may help Wheatens, other breeds of dogs, and humans with these diseases. 

We are recruiting both Soft-coated Wheaten Terriers and other breeds of dogs suspected or confirmed to have inflammatory bowel disease, protein losing enteropathy, protein losing nephropathy, Addison’s disease or juvenile renal disease/dysplasia to participate in this genome study. Participation involves obtaining a one-time blood sample from your dog, either at MJR-VHUP or your regular vet. Some dogs may also qualify to have a kidney biopsy performed. Some of the cost of this biopsy will be covered by the study.

We are also recruiting healthy Soft-coated Wheaten Terriers 14 years of age or older to contribute to the DNA bank. This will require a one-time blood draw, either at MJR-VHUP or your regular vet.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Meryl Littman VMD, DACVIM
Associate Professor of Medicine
phone: 215-898-9288
fax: 215-573-6050
email: merylitt@vet.upenn.edu