Cataract in the UK Leonberger population.
OBJECTIVE
To survey the Leonberger, a numerically small breed in the UK, for the presence of cataract and find statistical support for the possible presence of inherited forms of cataract.


METHODS
Ocular examinations were carried out by the first author between September 1996 and September 1998 on 211 Leonbergers; results of the ocular examination of further 228 Leonbergers examined between January 1990 and September 1998 by members of the British Veterinary Association/KC/ISDS eye scheme (BVA/KC/ISDS eye scheme) panel were analyzed. Data from all dogs examined were pooled in a composite database of 365 Leonbergers and the relationships between offspring and parents for the identified forms of cataract were examined with appropriate statistical methods.


RESULTS
Cataracts were diagnosed in 90 Leonbergers, the majority being nuclear (40) or posterior polar subcapsular (31). A subgroup of nuclear cataracts, diagnosed in 11 dogs, is described and named as 'posterior nuclear cataract.' For posterior polar cataract, a positive association between offspring and parents was made in the logistic regression model, supporting the suggestion of inheritance.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of several types of cataract in the UK Leonberger population is described. Statistical support for the inheritance of posterior polar subcapsular cataract is given.
Heinrich
Christine L
CL
Comparative Ophthalmology Unit, Center of Small Animal Studies, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK. c.l.h@tesco.net
Lakhani
Ken H
KH
Featherstone
Heidi J
HJ
Barnett
Keith C
KC
D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree