Detection of DNA markers in dogs with patellar luxation by high annealing temperature - random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis

Abstract

Patellar luxation is one of the orthopaedic disorders found mostly in small-breed dogs. It can be inherited by the next generation, causing continuing problems in the dogs' health. However, if it can be detected, the affected dogs will not be selected for breeding, and hence the incidence will be less. In this study, the objective was to find a DNA marker representing dogs with patellar luxation which can be detected when first born. High annealing temperature-random amplified polymorphic DNA (HAT-RAPD) technique was used to amplify 39 dog blood samples (16 unaffected and 23 affected). It was also used to develop the polymorphic fragments capable of distinguishing patellar-luxation-affected dogs from those unaffected. Three candidate fragments were sequenced and found to be parts from three different chromosomes (10, 36 and X) after comparison with the GenBank dog genome database using the BLAST algorithm. Association analysis was performed using a chi-square test. The results showed that the fragment (generated by the OPB05 primer) from chromosome 36 was potentially related to the two groups of dogs, with a P value of 0.042. This is the first finding of a gene which related to canine patellar luxation, and merits further investigation.