National Parent Club Canine Health Conference

Report by Graafin G. Leeuwenburg, CH & R Chairman

I was privileged to be able to attend this years’ National Parent Club Canine Health Conference presented by the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), on behalf of the NEAA and our breed. This was a wonderful and enlightening experience I would recommend to anyone who shares an interest in the progressive and ever changing world of canine health. I arrived early to attend the seminar especially geared to the understanding of just how the Canine Health Foundation functions, its’ process for submissions by researchers for grant funding, the vetting of proposals, and approval timelines for each of the two types of grants available (these are delineated by dollar amount and differ greatly in process length and requirements). I found it incredibly useful. So much so, that at my request, Christine Haakenson, PhD, Director of Research, AKC-CHF, kindly sent me the Power Point presentation slide show for this segment that I may better advise the Board on matters of sponsorship. Understanding this process is essential for us insofar as our expectations are concerned when we fund a project, avoiding confusion over research update notifications, and choosing how and when we sponsor research.

As the NEAA liaison to the CHF, I should receive an annual request from the CHF for our breed specific health concerns (sometime soon in accordance with their schedule). These concerns are taken into consideration as they go forward in their selection of proposals for the approval process. It is noteworthy, that the data extracted from our Health Survey becomes a valuable tool here in determining just what those concerns are from year to year and that which we would like to put forward to the CHF for consideration. Additionally, if there are areas of concern from the membership, I welcome that input as well.

Ten scientific programs were presented. While they all had much to offer, a couple stood out which I felt exceptional, and upon which I will elaborate; Matthew Breen, PhD, CBiol, MIBiol North Carolina State University, on the subject of “Canine Cancer and Comparative Genomics”, David Vail, DVM, DACVIM University of Wisconsin, “Clinical Trials in Veterinary Oncology: Past, Present, and Future.

The correlation of genomic make up across species through the sophisticated molecular technologies, and the complete genomic sequence of the human and dog now available reveals a core similarity between the two, and the ability to identify shared regions of both genomes associated with disease. This relationship allows the dog to be considered a valid biomedical model system in human genetic disease, wherein canine research data can and will impact human health according to Dr. Breen. I can only surmise that such a correlation will bode well in pursuit of support for canine health research, and the converse equally beneficial for our canine companions. Dr. Breens’ lab is currently working on the development of a prognostic test for Canine Lymphoma. The cutting edge technology will roll out slowly, and they are in negotiations with large companies to do the testing. It is anticipated that the test may also cross over to human prognosis in Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, garnering additional interest from the human medical community. In addition, Dr. Breens’ lab is working on other cancer diseases including Haemangiosarcoma. As both Lymphoma and Haemangiosarcoma are cancers well known to our breed, this is definitely a research lab of significant interest and possible NEAA support.

Dr. Breen went on to discuss the costs of genomic technologies, and the drive for advancement in applications to reduce costs. Reducing the cost to produce a sequence will make diagnostics and treatment of disease more obtainable. At the current rate of innovation, it is conceivable that the individualisation of treatment will be as unique as the individuals very own genomic sequence used to design that treatment. Concurrently, over the past five years, a biospecimen repository collection from a number of breeds, and a series of cytogenetic regents generated to evaluate the tumour genome of over 500 cancer patients, have been amassed.

Cancer, its’ causes, diagnostics, therapies and cures continue to challenge animal and humankind alike. On the forefront of discovery, the first FDA approved cancer drug was released in June of this year. The drug known as “Palladia” (Internet Link) permeated several of the presentations including that of Dr. David Vail. Slated to address mast cell tumours (found across many breeds including the Norwegian Elkhound), Palladia also shuts the switch ‘off’ in blood vessel proliferation in tumours—particularly useful with vascular masses where it has shown some efficacy in the treatment of Haemangiosarcoma according to Dr. Vail. To that end, one of the most exciting developments of the weekend came when Dr. Vail shared the (early) announcement regarding his recently funded Phase II Clinical Trial for Haemangiosarcoma treatment, due to begin in January of 2010. Owing to the devastating, rapidly advancing and fatality of Haemangiosarcoma, I hope to bring you more information (and good news) on this research as it unfolds.

Two other notable presentations put forward key diagnostics tools not readily found in practice, and as such may be unknown options for owners of dogs with certain ailments:

Simon Platt, BVM & S, DACVIM, DECVN, University of Georgia, “New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Investigations of Neurological Disease in Dogs”: Advanced MRI imaging (including Helical CT) has been shown to aid in the timely and accurate diagnosis of Central Nervous System diseases (such as malformations, epilepsy, brain tumours, brain and spinal strokes and breed associated meningitis) critical for successful treatment. The University of Georgia has one of very few 3T MRI machines available to clinical veterinary patients. They are currently at the half way point of a two-year study looking to establish activity (not just structure) of brain tumours to determine their type and if the region of tissue is still live. Another form of advanced diagnostics available is that of Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Imaging, which measures the rate of contrast material uptake over time. Further information regarding Idiopathic Epilepsy, which accounts for 50% of seizures in dogs, will be updated as the details of this presentation become available.

Eric C. Ledbetter, DVM, DACVO Cornell University, “Canine Herpevirus-1: a New Pathogenic Role for an Old Virus”. Canine Herpesvirus-1 (CHV-1), first identified in the 1960’s as a severe cause of morbidity and mortality in fetal and neonatal dogs, it was commonly referred to as “fading puppy syndrome”. More recent studies have associated CHV-1 as an ocular pathogen in conjunctivitis, ulcerative and non-ulcerative keratitis, though the extent to other diseases is still unknown. Dogs kept in groups have an increased risk for CHV-1 infection. With a broad range of ocular diseases in mind, Dr. Ledbetter cites several advancements in diagnostics and therapies: Ocular Imaging (Tomography 3-D, Confocal Scanning 2-3D view, and HF Ultrasound) brings a resolution that is almost the same as that of a biopsy; Vitreoretinal Surgery allows for the repair of retinal tears or detachment; Gene therapy (currently in study use only); and Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation (ECP), for the treatment of Glaucoma. Dr Ledbetter notes that this last treatment (ECP) for Glaucoma is only offered in veterinary patient clinics at Cornell.

Owing to the intense schedule and sheer volume of information presented, the CHF has in the past two years, produced a multi-disc set of all the presentations to assist CHF liaisons, and for use by the Parent Clubs. Those discs were given to the liaisons in 2007 and 2008 as a part of their attendance package. They (CHF) found, however, that as the discs were not being utilised by the clubs it was a cost prohibitive investment of funds. This year, the CHF has decided to make each of the presentations available for download from their website, and will release one presentation every 2-3 weeks. In that way, we can extract key highlights in addition to our notes from the conference for more complete reporting. I also procured a set of the 2008 NPCCHC Discs for myself, but am happy to share their content upon request.

While in the past, our funding has supported research exclusive to the Norwegian Elkhound, there are any number of research projects underway that are shared health concerns across many breeds, which would allow us the advantage of shared resources with other clubs in support of needed research. In that way we could provide much needed support to more than one area of research, and which I hope the NEAA Board will consider going forward.

Although this report is primarily a reflection of the NPCCHC sponsored by the CHF, it should be noted that not all research conducted is performed in the USA nor connected to CHF, and we should be mindful that there may well be legitimate research projects in need of funding which we wish to support that fall outside of these constraints. I would also suggest that should anyone be aware of such research that is not currently seeking funding through CHF, that we encourage their application for such. In that way, the costly process of vetting may be accomplished by CHF to our benefit, and there exists the possibility for a shared burden of funding and the increased likelihood that legitimate research projects are not thwarted for lack of funding.