title: A retrospective epidemiological study of clinical signs and familial predisposition associated with aseptic meningitis in the Norwegian population of Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers born 1994-2003.
abstract: Aseptic meningitis (AM) is a disease that causes grave clinical signs such as intensive neck pain, fever, and lethargy. The severity of this disease is reflected in the fact that affected animals require long-term, and in chronic cases, lifelong therapy with corticosteroids. A number of dogs must be euthanized because of therapeutic failure. In recent years, the Norwegian population of Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers has experienced an increase in individuals with AM. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of AM and to pursue the suspicion of hereditary factors influencing an accumulation of AM cases in the breed. Using the Norwegian Kennel Club registery, a random sample (362 dogs) stratified by year of birth was drawn from the total population born from 1994 to 2003 (1525 individuals). The owners were contacted and questioned about clinical signs of AM in their dogs. Subsequently, the practising veterinarians and the breeders of positive responders were contacted in order to confirm a clinical diagnosis of AM and to identify possible affected family members. Pedigrees of AM positive individuals and affected relatives were investigated. The study estimated a prevalence of AM of 2.5%. For all affected dogs, it was possible to trace the pedigree of both parents of affected dogs back to a specific founder dog. The genealogical investigation strongly indicates that genetic factors are involved in the etiology of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Postboks 8146 Dep, 0033 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Kristin P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Anfinsen
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berendt
authors.forename: Flora J H
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Liste
authors.forename: Therese R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Haagensen
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Indrebo
authors.forename: Frode
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lingaas
authors.forename: Oyvind
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stigen
authors.forename: Lis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alban
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D008297:Male; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010375:Pedigree; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
references.citation: J Vet Intern Med. 1988 Jan-Mar;2(1):26-35
references.pmid: 3065492
references.citation: J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1991 Mar 1;198(5):849-56
references.pmid: 2026537
references.citation: Vet Res Commun. 2003 Sep;27 Suppl 1:763-5
references.pmid: 14535516
references.citation: Nihon Juigaku Zasshi. 1990 Feb;52(1):55-61
references.pmid: 2313952
references.citation: J Neuroimmunol. 1998 Aug 14;89(1-2):182-90
references.pmid: 9726841
references.citation: J Comp Pathol. 1987 Mar;97(2):121-8
references.pmid: 2885350
references.citation: J Vet Intern Med. 1995 Sep-Oct;9(5):304-14
references.pmid: 8531175
references.citation: J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1989 Jun 1;194(11):1595-7
references.pmid: 2753780
references.citation: Vet Pathol. 1995 Jul;32(4):337-45
references.pmid: 7483207
references.citation: J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1992 Nov 15;201(10):1553-8
references.pmid: 1363239
references.citation: Tierarztl Prax. 1996 Oct;24(5):514-8
references.pmid: 8999602
references.citation: Res Vet Sci. 1995 Mar;58(2):103-8
references.pmid: 7761686
references.citation: Vet Pathol. 1981 Mar;18(2):219-23
references.pmid: 7467081
references.citation: Vet Rec. 1993 Apr 3;132(14):361-2
references.pmid: 8488643
references.citation: J Vet Intern Med. 2002 May-Jun;16(3):262-8
references.pmid: 12041655
references.citation: Zentralbl Veterinarmed A. 1999 Mar;46(2):75-85
references.pmid: 10216444
references.citation: Vet Rec. 1978 Jun 17;102(24):519-22
references.pmid: 675999
references.citation: Toxicol Pathol. 1989;17(1 Pt 2):129-37
references.pmid: 2568680
references.citation: J Small Anim Pract. 2000 Jul;41(7):295-301
references.pmid: 10976624
references.citation: Vet Rec. 1973 Apr 7;92(14):363-6
references.pmid: 4146411