2014 UPDATE ON POLYMYOSITIS
The past year has seen many developments
Cases
Sadly - new cases continue to be reported - we know of 12 in the UK in the last year and there are likely
to be many more that we do not hear of. The good news though is that as a result of increased
awareness about Vizsla Polymyositis affected dogs are tending to be diagnosed more quickly. This
results in treatment being instigated without delay and ensures the best chance of long term remission
from the clinical signs of disease
Veterinary Developments
There has been great progress. Anna Tauro received the prestigious and highly competitive prize for the
best clinical research abstract presented to the 2013 BSAVA Congress. This described a retrospective
cohort study of 69 affected vizslas. Work is now under way to publish the ensuing article in a scientific
journal – peer review is a robust and time consuming process. It is hoped that the paper will gain
acceptance in a journal that is open access so as to especially benefit first opinion vets as well as owners
and breeders.
Clare Rusbridge is the amazing Veterinary Neurologist whose generous help since 2010 has achieved
such progress in the matter of recognition of VPM. In 2013 she was appointed as Reader in Neurology at
Surrey University Vet School and is also now Chief of Neurology at the renowned Fitzpatricks Referrals home of the Supervet! Anna Tauro has joined Clare there as Resident in Neurology – and both of their
online biographies confirm a continuing research focus on Polymyositis and the other immune mediated
diseases to which the vizsla is prone. Our breed is very lucky indeed to have such specific interest and
support.
Genetics
The purpose of the research is to develop a DNA screening test. Nobody has ever doubted that this is a
massive task. Following on from the PLOS ONE research paper identifying a MHC Class II haplotype
associated with an increased risk of VPM work has continued in the submission of saliva samples from
affected dogs and their relatives. We are hoping that a Genome Wide Association study might shortly
prove possible and to this end discussions are under way with the scientists at CIGMR (the Centre for
Integrated Genomic Medical Research) Funding will be required.
Funding
The PM fund - administered at first by the HVC and now by the Hungarian Vizsla Welfare Charity – has
made donations totalling £16,000 to the Centre for Integrated Genomic Medical research - CIGMR – (at
the University of Manchester) The PM Fund has also paid for a post mortem on an affected bitch, the
veterinary fees for another and postal and stationery expenses.
Mention must be made of the truly inspiring generosity of the vizsla community – without them the
genetics aspects of PM would be finding it difficult to move forward to the next stage of research.
Grateful thanks to all the wonderful people that have helped.