Immunological diseases in Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers
Project overview
Participants
More related research
Short summary
Tollers disease is the name given to two different immunological diseases (SRMA and IMRD, see below) with different symptoms that affect dogs of different ages. The diseases also occur in other dog breeds, but are more common in Tollers than in most other breeds.
Current
The Tollare Project has been ongoing since 2002. Over the years, intensive research has been conducted, resulting in several scientific publications. We are continuously looking for Tollare dogs for further studies.
Participation
We are currently looking for:
Dogs with suspected or confirmed distemper (untreated or treated) throughout the country. Veterinarians who suspect distemper can send samples for analysis of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) free of charge within the framework of the project.
A special referral is required for ANA tests.
Veterinarians and owners of dogs with suspected tollers disease are always welcome to call or email for advice!
If you have a dog of another breed with symptoms of rheumatic joint pain that has tested positive on the ANA test, see “Immunological diseases with ANA positivity.”
More about: Meningitis (Steroid responsive meningitis arteritis, SRMA)
SRMA is a type of meningitis that affects young dogs, usually between 6 and 18 months of age. Symptoms, which often appear very suddenly, include fever, neck pain, and general malaise. The cause of the disease is not entirely clear, but an overactive immune system is likely a contributing factor.
More about: Rheumatic joint pain (also called SLE-like disease or immune-mediated rheumatic disease, IMRD)
Rheumatic joint pain or IMRD affects older dogs compared to SRMA. Most dogs are 2 to 6 years old when they fall ill. The disease can be insidious or more acute. The most common symptom is stiffness after rest. Lameness in various legs/joints, difficulty getting up, walking stairs, and jumping in/out of the car are also typical symptoms. IMRD is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissue. The diagnosis is based on typical clinical signs, exclusion of other diseases that can cause similar symptoms, and a test for antinuclear antibodies (ANA). The majority of Tollers with IMRD test positive for ANA, but a negative test does not rule out the disease.
More about: Tumors
Tollers are more prone than other dogs to certain types of tumors, including lymphoma. In humans with SLE, it is known that there is an increased risk of developing lymphoma, for example. The exact cause of this is not known, either in humans or in dogs, but it is believed to be related to the immune system.