Potential New Breeders Tool - Peach Points

[tasha]

As many of you know I am very keen on health testing and new DNA tests that can be used be it for breeding or just for the further understanding of the make up of our dogs and have had the ones available that are non invasive carried out on Bonnie, including heart and coat carrier testing.

There is now the potential for a new test being made available by the Canadian HealthGene company that can be used with regard to DNA profiling that will rule out peach points by confirming the solid colour. The original test which was developed to identify coat and nose colour in breeds like the cocker spaniel is not able to be used in the same manner for Weimaraners but is potentially still a very good tool.

This is the write up from Bethany from Foresters Weimaraners in Canada who has helped to gain access to this test for Weimaraners:

November 28, 2008
DNA Test - Tan Point/Marks
KB homozygosity test

There is a DNA test available that is usable for possible carriers. The Canadian company HealthGene located in Toronto Ontario Canada, has had this test available for some time now. Initially, I had trouble making contact with them regarding this test for Weimaraners. Eventually, I was able to have some discussions with one of the founders of the test.

This particular test is not designed to identify any of the recessive genes responsible for allowing tan points/marks to appear in the phenotype. Some are known, some are being studied at this point in time. KB allows only solid colours of black, brown, grey. Since grey Weimaraners should be homozygous KB/KB, this test will identify whether the dog is homozygous KB/KB, and that is all. This should be enough, at the present time, to allow those who may have had tan points/marks appear in individuals in a litter, to test littermates being considered for breeding. This is very good news for the small number of litters that have this ancestral trait appear; they no longer have to face not using the lineage or stock due to uncertainty or test breeding on this autosomal recessive trait. There has been, however, a small group of suitable Weimaraners tested and it was proven for its intended use (homozygous KB/KB). This is a limited, but useful test, and another new tool we now have available to us.

HealthGene puts their support behind reputable breeders, purebred dogs and their applicable standards. They will not advertise testing for colours that are not recognized. Hence, the Weimaraner is not listed and will not be listed in their group of dogs eligible for this test.

However, in my discussions with one of the founders of the test and conferring with HealthGene, they have agreed to perform this test on Weimaraners - by special request only. They also agreed that I could make this announcement. They want to ensure that reputable breeders are using this test in support of the breed standard. I now understand their initial hesitancy in broaching this subject and gained good insight into their Corporate ethics.

Special request will require that Weimaraner breeders make contact with the HealthGene first, describing the test you want and why before submitting any samples. Please be prepared to comply with questions or concerns they may have for you and recognize it for what it is, concern for the breed.

My gratitude to Sheila Schmutz, Ph.D, Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada for her assistance and support of this endeavour.
Bethany Manderson

HEALTHGENE INFORMATION:
Website: www.healthgene.com
Page for this test: healthgene.com/canine/C128.asp
Test Code #: C128
Contact information Page: www.healthgene.com/canine/contact.asp

Bonnie doesn't have peach points but ideally to test how robust this test is if anyone has a UK KC registered dog that does have peach points and is willing to test the theory with me that would be appreciated. The results of Bonnies and the pupsters tests will be made publically available.

The test can be carried out in two ways either via a blood sample or via a buccal cheek swab, as blood is dependant upon swift delivery and requires veterinary assistance I'm going to use the other option of a cheek swab which is very simple and easy to do so the test can be carried out non evasively so at no detriment to the dogs concerned.

[weims4bethany]

Hello,
I am happy to share the work I do for DNA tests for Weimaraners. I would appreciate though that my articles not be taken from my website like this, as a common courtesy and of rules of copyright. Please feel free to post the LINK to the information on my site so reputable breeders can have access to new and correct information.

www.foresterweimaraners.com/bethany.htm

One of the reasons I note that the superscripts for the DNA markers have been copied incorrectly, which reflects poorly on my original article on my website. Then the DNA markers are written wrong in your post, using small letters. These are vitally important, mean something very different, and I do not wish to have those errors reflected on my work and articles.

There is no reason to send in samples from dogs to verify the test from another country. The theory is already proven. I note this was done before regarding the DNA tests I had proven for Weimaraners for longhair/shorthair/blended coat from previous posts on this site by sending in a phenotypical longhair for a test that identifies genotypical longhairs. If a dog is presentiing the trait, why test for the trait? It has already been proven. The tests are proven by the company before being offered to the public for a fee. They certainly would not offer a test for a fee if it was not proven, and in the process, ruin their reputation and any future income.

Tests are then proven for each breed, like I had done with Weimaraners for lh/sh/blended coat and now this test it has been proven useful to screen out possible carriers of tan points/marks for Weimaraners, under conditions. Those steps are already done and proven. I have already taken steps with the company so that reputable breeders of Weimaraners can have access to this screening test and your soliciting samples from dogs not yet intended for breeding and that are already presenting the trait to send to the company, undermines the relationship I cultivated with this company for all Weimaraner breeders.

Although you sent me a private message requesting to pass on the information, you did not wait for my response. I believe this was simply a matter of the time zone differences between our countries, but as you can see, there are errors already snowballing.

Again, I AM happy to share the information and articles, but I must address these errors already accumulating.

Sincerely,

Bethany Manderson
Ontario Canada
www.foresterweimaraners.com

[tasha]

Sorry Bethany I think it was a bit of a time delay in zones, my apologies.

The article was copied direct and the usual copyright information on articles provided as credit should always be given where credit is due including links to your website but the systems don't allow for the raised alphabet needed for the strand so copies as lower case. If I can find a way to correct it I will Obviously your post has corrected it in this instance.

The reasoning behind asking for volunteers was to check the test for my own breeding stock, I did the same for the longhaired gene, the theory may already be proven but access to that data is not openly available and the dogs would be unknown here, its also been shown in other DNA tests that dog populations from different continents can carry different markers. There is no harm done in testing a theory it only adds to its validity.

If I take this test to the UK club for their support or to encourage other reputable UK breeders to use it as a breeder tool I have to show that the results are as the theory suggests with dogs that they can recognise. Unfortunately people don't have blind faith some sadly have a great distrust of new technologies and can be very slow to take up new tests available especially when there is a high cost attached. Our currency being so weak at the moment has made the cost a little higher than usual sadly.

My interest in the test for an example is that my dog has a confirmed peached dam in her lineage so this test is of great interest to me, Gunmetal Peach Blush is behind some of our most popular lines in the UK but was a very clearly peach marked bitch from the 70's and named as such in her kennel name by her owner - she'll also potentially be behind some of the dogs exported to the US, Canada & Australia for an example in the last 30 years. Her pedigree is on Sylvia's website if your interested

www.weimaranerpedigrees.com/modules/animal/pedigree.php?pedid=42407

On occassion a peach marked puppy as cropped up sometimes when the litter has been a repeat mating so it would be of great interest to know what the dogs are carrying genetically. I don't currently have a clearly marked peach dog or bitch available myself hence the request for a volunteer. A volunteer from a reputable breeder has come forward who has a clearly marked peach dog. I'm also trying to procure a sample from a dog that is peach and cream marked as these have also cropped up on rare occassion not the usual white star or zip but following the pattern of the peaching on ears, legs, face and behind.

There is also the added interest of the bitches who show peach markings during their season but not at any other time, is this down to a chemical reaction given off during this short period or a genetic marker?

If the test is only available for a few select breeders that will be a real pity especially as stock is exported globally on a regular basis.

I hope that puts your mind at rest with regard to my request for a volunteer.

[weims4bethany]

the dogs would be unknown here
There is only one purebred population. Doesn't matter what soil they are on.

There is no harm done in testing a theory it only adds to its validity.

It is not theory. It has been proven, articled, patented/licenced, for fee testing, and already in use.

it would be of great interest to know what the dogs are carrying genetically.
The test is not designed to test carriers, or marks, as I wrote in my article.

A volunteer from a reputable breeder has come forward who has a clearly marked peach dog
I clearly stated in my article, the test is not (not is underlined in my article) designed for tan points/marks. Why would you send in a sample of a tan pointed/marked dog. As I stated before, why would you test for a trait that the dog is expressing. In my article, I wote that the company only tests for colours listed in the breed's standard. Why would you send in a sample of a mismarked Weim. What are you going to tell your club. I sent in a sample to test a trait that the test is not designed to find.

This is my last post on this subject.
Bethany