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Dryad

PLINK breed data showing SLAMF1 is associated with canine atopic dermatitis

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Apr 01, 2025 version files 1.23 GB

Abstract

Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a common inflammatory skin condition in dogs. It is a life-long problem which poses a significant welfare issue due to the chronic skin discomfort and pruritus (itch) experienced. Excessive scratching, licking and chewing cause self-trauma to the skin and increased risk of secondary infections. Several breeds are predisposed including the Labrador Retriever, Boxer and French Bulldog, suggesting a genetic component to the condition. Our access to a sizeable population of dogs genotyped on a medium density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array along with linked clinical record information allows for large-scale and highly powered genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis. In this study, over 28 thousand dogs were used to look for genetic changes associated with CAD. We identified a statistically significant signal on canine chromosome 38, with a particularly strong association in the French Bulldog breed. Genome resequencing revealed a provocative splice donor variant in SLAMF1 (Signaling lymphocytic activation molecule 1), an immune system associated gene. Analysis of further genome sequences and RNA samples from the Mars Petcare Biobank confirmed the SLAMF1 variant as a strong candidate for causing an increased risk of atopic dermatitis.