Category: General

  An important paper published March 17, 2011 in the journal PLoS Genetics has given important new information concerning the relationship between hyaluronan (as present in the folds and wrinkles of the Chinese Shar-Pei), FSF and amyloidosis. The link to the article “A Novel Unstable Duplication Upstream of the HAS2 Predisposes to a Breed-Defining Skin Phenotype and a Periodic Fever Syndrome in Chinese Shar-Pei Dogs” is at http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.1001332 . An international research group at Uppsala University, Sweden and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard including Linda Tintle, DVM of Wurtsboro, New York has uncovered a copy number variant mutation...

Primary lens luxation is an eye problem which is hereditary on the Chinese Shar-Pei. The lens is held in place in the eye by fibers called zonules. If these fibers are weak, not located properly around the circumference of the lens capsule, or break, the lens can fall out of its normal position or “luxate”. The lens typically moves forward against the iris blocking the pupil and interfering with movement of aqueous fluid into the drainage angle which is located around the base of the iris. This can result in an increase in intraocular pressure known as secondary glaucoma which...