Heritability of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in German Shepherd Dogs

• Published in: Journal of veterinary internal medicine 2010-03, Vol.24 (2), p.450-452
• Main Authors: Westermarck, E, Saari, S.A.M, Wiberg, M.E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal pathology; Animals; atrophy; Biopsy; congenital abnormalities; dams (mothers); dog diseases; Dog Diseases - genetics; Dogs; epidemiological studies; exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency - genetics; Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency - veterinary; familial incidence; Female; genetic disorders; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; German Shepherd; heritability; inheritance (genetics); Male; pancreas; Pancreatic acinar atrophy; pancreatic diseases; Polygenic inheritance; progeny; risk groups; sires; Test mating; trypsin; Trypsin-like immunoreactivity
• ISSN: 0891-6640; 1939-1676
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2009.0461.x

Background: Several studies have revealed that exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is an inherited disease in German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs). Pedigree analyses have suggested an autosomal recessive inheritance model. Objective: Test mating of 2 dogs with EPI. Animals: A sire and dam purebred GSD both with EPI and a litter of 6 puppies. Methods: Test mating and long‐term follow‐up of offspring. The pancreas was biopsied via laparotomy on 26 occasions. Serum trypsin‐like immunoreactivity was measured. Study was approved by Animal Ethics Committee. Results: During the 12‐year study period only 2 of the 6 offsprings developed pancreatic acinar atrophy (PAA). In 1 puppy, end‐stage PAA and in the other puppy partial PAA was diagnosed. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: PAA is not a congenital disease in GSDs. This study provided evidence that PAA is not inherited in a simple autosomal recessive fashion.