New loci involved in phenotypes of canine hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis

Canine hip dysplasia is particularly problematic as it massively affects several large-sized breeds and can cause a severe impairment of the quality of life, while its genetic etiology is proposed to be separate from osteoarthritis.

In Finland, the complex condition is categorized to five classes from normal to severe dysplasia, but includes several sub-traits: congruity of the joint, Norberg angle, subluxation degree of the joint, shape and depth of the acetabulum, and osteoarthritis.

Using internationally standardized ventrodorsal radiographs, German shepherds were rigorously phenotyped for osteoarthritis. The affected dogs were categorized into mild, moderate and severe dysplastic phenotypes using official hip scores.

Three different genome-wide significant loci were uncovered. The strongest candidate genes for hip joint incongruity were noggin (NOG) and nanos C2HC-type zinc finger 1 (NANOS1). Osteoarthritis was mapped to a long intergenic region on chromosome 1, an intriguing candidate for articular cartilage degradation, and AT-rich interactive domain 1B (ARID1B) that has been previously linked to joint laxity.

Findings highlight the complexity of canine hip dysplasia phenotypes. In particular, the results of this study point to the potential involvement of specific and partially distinct loci and genes or pathways in the development of incongruity, dysplasia and osteoarthritis of canine hip joints.

Read more on this article below:

New loci involved in phenotypes of canine hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis