Post to Breeders — Hermaphroditism in Soft Coated Wheaten Terrers
Vicki N Meyers-Wallen VMD PhD Dipl ACT
Cornell University – College of Veterinary Medicine

I am a veterinarian and researcher on the faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University. My website is located at: bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/faculty/view.php?id=180

A disorder that I am studying causes hermaphroditism in several breeds, including the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, and is called Sry-negative XX Sex Reversal (XXSR). We recently identified a DNA difference in affected SCWTs, which was reported in the following journal:

De Lorenzi L, Groppetti D, Arrighi S, Pujar S, Nicoloso L, Molteni L, Pecile A, Cermonesi F, Parma P, Meyers-Wallen VN. 2008. Mutations in the RSPO1 coding region are not the main cause of canine SRY-negative XX sex reversal in several breeds. Sexual Development 2008;2(2):84-95.

Including the affected SCWTs reported in that publication, we have identified a total of 5 affected SCWTs that have the same DNA difference. However, since we do not have DNA from any dogs related to them, we cannot be certain whether this DNA difference is truly linked to the disorder (a disorder specific difference) or is just a DNA difference that occurs frequently in all SCWTs (a breed specific difference).

What we need to investigate this further is DNA samples from additional affected SCWTs and their immediate relatives (affecteds, mother, father, apparently normal sisters). We are asking for blood samples because this is the best source of uncontaminated DNA, which allows us to use technologies that require high quality DNA.

Since affected SCWTs have not been identified very often in the past as far as we know, we expect that the number of affected dogs is likely to be small. Therefore, it is important to collect samples from as many affected SCWT as are identified, and there is no limit at this time on the number of samples we would like from affected dogs.

Such samples from affected and related dogs can only be obtained by cooperation from breeders, owners, and veterinarians as affected dogs are identified. Therefore we are asking for your support in obtaining samples. All information provided is confidential.

See the attached document (SCWT_XXSR_samples_11-08.pdf) for collection and shipment information and the owner consent form.

Thank you for your consideration,

Vicki N. Meyers-Wallen, VMD, PhD, Dipl. ACT
Associate Professor
Department of Biomedical Sciences
J.A. Baker Institute for Animal Health
College of Veterinary Medicine
Cornell University
Hungerford Hill Road
Ithaca NY 14853
(607) 256-5683
(607) 256-5608 fax

bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/faculty/view.php?id=180

11/08 – posted 01/09