Inheritance of von Willebrand's disease in a colony of Doberman Pinschers.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the mode of inheritance of von Willebrand's disease (vWD) and perform linkage analysis between vWD and coat color or narcolepsy in a colony of Doberman Pinschers.


METHODS
159 Doberman Pinschers.


METHODS
von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag) concentration was measured by use of ELISA, and results were used to classify dogs as having low (< 20%), intermediate (20 to 65%), or high (> 65%) vWF:Ag concentration, compared with results of analysis of standard pooled plasma. Buccal bleeding time was measured, and mode of inheritance of vWD was assessed by pedigree analysis.


RESULTS
von Willebrand's disease was transmitted as a single autosomal gene defect. Results suggested that 27.04% of dogs were homozygous for vWD, 62.26% were heterozygous, and 10.69% did not have the defect. Most homozygous and some heterozygous dogs had prolonged bleeding times. Dogs with diluted coat colors (blue and fawn) were significantly overrepresented in the homozygous group, compared with black and red dogs, but a significant link between vWD and coat color was not detected.


CONCLUSIONS
von Willebrand's disease is transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait with variable penetrance; most dogs in this colony (89.3%) were carriers of vWD. Homozygosity for vWD is not likely to be lethal. Some heterozygous dogs have prolonged bleeding times. An association between diluted coat colors and vWD may exist.
Riehl
J
J
Sleep Disorders Center, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
Okura
M
M
Mignot
E
E
Nishino
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001760:Bleeding Time; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D004285:Dogs / Q000235:genetics*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006200:Hair Color / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary; D010375:Pedigree; D014842:von Willebrand Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis*
D014841:von Willebrand Factor