von Willebrand’s DNA Test

          Type I -  Bernese Mountain Dog, Doberman Pincher, Kerry Blue Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Papillon and Poodle

         
             VetGen scientists, in collaboration with the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, proudly announce the discovery of the mutation that causes Type I von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD)  and the offering of a DNA test to detect vWD in the above breeds.

        Unlike other vWD test methods, the VetGen vWD test offers:
         

        • Definitive results:   The VetGen test will unambiguously classify dogs of the above breeds into CLEAR, CARRIER or AFFECTED categories.
        • One time testing:   Since VetGen directly detects the vWD DNA mutation, each dog needs to be tested only once in its lifetime. This is a significant improvement over the vWD factor assay, which can vary over time in the same dog.
        • Ease of use:   Simply swab the inside of the dog's mouth using the soft-bristle brushes supplied in a VetGen test kit. Then return the brushes to VetGen by standard mail.
        • Quick results:   Test results are provided within 2 weeks of VetGen's receipt of the DNA sample.
        • Information You Can Use:   VetGen's DNA test results enable you to make informed breeding decisions to eradicate the vWD gene from your dogs.


        Von Willebrand’s Disease and the DNA Test:

               Type I von Willebrand’s disease in the above breeds occurs  as the  mild form, as distinguished  from the severe form, which occurs in Scottish Terriers and Shetland Sheep Dogs.  It is characterized by the abnormally low production of a protein found in the blood called von Willebrand’s factor which plays a key role in the complex process of clotting a damaged blood vessel.  Breeds with the severe form produce no von Willebrand’s factor.  More details about the disease may be found in the documents below.  These documents were written about Doberman Pinchers, but as the other breeds above have the same mutation, the molecular biology and clinical manifestations will be the same in these breeds and therefore these two documents apply to the other breeds as well.

          The Mutation  -
              von Willebrand’s Disease, Doberman Pinscher

          Correspondence between Dr. Patrick Venta and James Anable Jr.   -
              Answering FAQ's about vWD in Doberman Pinschers.

            vWD Type I  -  e-mail response to Questions raised on various mailing lists, regarding von Willebrand's Disease (vWD Type I) 

               Before the DNA test was discovered by VetGen and the Universities, an Elisa factor assay blood test was used to attempt to diagnose vWD.  This test produced results which were highly variable and the test fell into disfavor.  The following paper addresses these highly variable results and demonstrates the variability of vWf production in Doberman Pinchers.

          Temporal Variation and Factors affecting measurement of Canine von Willebrand Factor ©
            You need Acrobat Reader to view this file.     Get Acrobat Reader here

               VetGen has performed a cross correlation study comparing the results of the DNA test to the Factor Assay results in the Doberman Pincher and the Poodle.  To view a summary of this study see the following page:

          Correlation of DNA and Factor Assay test  -
              for vWD in Doberman Pinschers and Poodles
           

        Disease Gene Frequency in Breeds Tested:

               VetGen has been asked by the respective breed clubs to post, from time to time, the statistical results of the vWD tests by breed.  The table below contains the results as of January 11, 2002.


        vWD Phenotype

        .
        Clear
        Carrier
        Affected
          Bernese Mountain Dog
        84%
        14%
        1%
          Doberman
        23%
        49%
        28%
          Manchester Terrier
        61%
        35%
        4%
          Pembroke Welsh Corgi
         65%
         29%
        6%
          Poodle
         88%
         11%
         1%



        Canine: vWD Patents
          US Patent No. 6,040,143 and 6,074,832
          Licensed Exclusively by The Board of Regents of the
          University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI) System to VetGen LLC


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