Phenotype, inheritance characteristics, and risk factors for idiopathic epilepsy in Finnish Spitz dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the phenotype, inheritance characteristics, and risk factors for idiopathic epilepsy (IE) in Finnish Spitz dogs (FSDs).


METHODS
Prospective epidemiological study.


METHODS
2,141 FSDs.


METHODS
From 2003 to 2004, questionnaires (n = 5,960) were sent to all owners of 1-to 10-year-old FSDs in Finland. Phone interviews were performed 1 to 2 years later.


RESULTS
Estimated prevalence of IE was 5.36% (111/2,069 of FSDs that were still alive). Males were predisposed to IE. The median age of onset was 3 years (range, 0.6 to 10 years). The median seizure frequency was 2 seizures/y (range, 0.5 to 48 seizures/y), and the median duration of the seizure episode was 11.75 minutes (range, 1.5 to 90 minutes). The majority (85%) of the seizures had a focal onset, and 54% were characterized as generalized secondary. A generalized seizure phase was determined to be a risk factor for development of progressive disease. Factors associated with the occurrence of a generalized phase were the age of onset, duration of the seizure, number of feeding times per day, and whether the dog was used for hunting. The seizures were not progressing in 678% of the dogs and were easily controlled by antiepileptic treatment in 78.9% of the dogs. The heritability estimate of IE in FSDs was 0.22; IE was best explained as a polygenic trait.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study conducted in Finland, complex focal seizures were the most common seizure type for FSDs with IE, and a generalized seizure phase was a risk factor for progression of the disease. Results suggested a benign course of epilepsy in FSDs.
Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland., Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51014 Tartu, Estonia.
Ranno
R
Viitmaa
Sigitas
S
Cizinauskas
Toomas
T
Orro
Meri
M
Niilo-Rämä
Emilia
E
Gordin
Hannes
H
Lohi
Eija H
EH
Seppälä
Hanna
H
Bragge
Marjatta
M
Snellman
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D004285:Dogs; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010375:Pedigree; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires