A genetic study of a SOD1 missense mutation in Czechoslovakian Wolfdog.

Abstract

Canine degenerative myelopathy occurs in many dog breeds, mainly German Shepherd dogs. The causative mutation E40K in the SOD1 gene changes the structure and function of the superoxide dismutase 1 protein. The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is an unique dog breed, that resulted from hybridization between Carpathian wolves and German Shepherds in the 1950s. Its genetic composition shows a higher proportion of the dog genome than wolf genome (Smetanová et al., 2015). In the present study we have screened the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog population for the causative degenerative myelopathy mutation E40K in order to estimate its prevalence in Slovakia. Our study confirmed that the frequency of the E40K missense mutation (0,25) is relatively high and genetic testing is important in breeding programs.