Familial Dysrhythmia Is Inherited As An Autosomal Dominant Trait In Selected Boxer Families Kathryn M. Meurs, DVM, PhD,  The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Moderator:

Dr. Sheldon Adler has been a breeder and active exhibitor of Giant Schnauzers for the past twenty-one years, and has served on the board of the Giant Schnauzer Club of America as President as well as Eastern Director. Dr. Adler has also been a member of the Rockland County Kennel Club and Delegate to the AKC for seven years as well as Delegate to the ADOA. For the past three years, he has served on the Canine Health Committee and has been Chairman for the past two years.

Dr. Adler's past surgical career in being responsible for surgical research laboratories at the SLJNY Downstate Medical Center has afforded him a brief but intensive exposure to the requirements and subtleties of scientific research.

Summary:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate families of Boxer dogs with familial dysrhythmia to determine a mode of inheritance for this familial trait. Fifty-four (54) Boxer dogs were evaluated by physical examination, electrocardiogram, echocardiograrn and Holter monitor. Dogs were considered to be affected if at least 50 right ventricular morphology premature complexes were observed during a twenty-four hour period. Animals were excluded from the study if they had co-existing congenital cardiac, disease or acquired valvular disease. Of the 54 dogs examined, nineteen could be assigned to three discrete families for pedigree evaluation. All dogs were at least five years of age at evaluation.

Eleven of the nineteen dogs were determined to be affected; five males and six females. The number of ventricular premature complexes observed during a twenty-four hour period in affected dogs ranged from 112 - 3668. The number of ventricular premature complexes observed during a twenty-four hour period in the unaffected dogs ranged from 0-16.

Pedigree evaluation was performed to determine a pattern of inheritance. X-linked and autosomal recessive patterns of inheritance could be excluded since two affected parents produced unaffected female offspring. An autosomal dominant pattern was determined to be most likely since a sex predisposition was not observed (five males, six females), affected individuals were observed in every generation and two affected parents were able to produce an unaffected offspring. We conclude that this trait is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait in Boxer families.

Dr. Meurs work is supported by the following grant from the AKC Canine Health Foundation:

No. 1428: Inheritance Patterns and Molecular Genetic Analysis of Doberman Pinschers and Boxer Dogs with Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy (Sponsored in part by the American Boxer Charitable Trust)

Biographical Profile

Dr. Kathryn M. Meurs is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her DVM in 1990 at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and completed a small animal internship at North Carolina State University in 1991. She completed a Cardiology residency at Texas A&M University and is board certified from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology).

Dr. Meurs has a Ph.D. in Genetics from Texas A&M University and her areas of interest include the inheritance of cardiovascular disease, especially cardiomyopathy.