International SM Symposium, Oct 26 2007

During this four day international symposium on human SM, a special meeting has been set up with syringomyelia experts to discuss SM in canines, most specifically, in cavaliers. Several of the leading researchers will be there to speak and participate in a panel discussion with questions from the public.

This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in the future of this breed to attend and learn about this condition -- fees for the full day are only £45 (see below for registration information). If you are interested in submitting an email question, please do so immediately as questions will all need to be in by early October. You will find more information on submitting questions here. The full conference website is here.

If you are interested in attending, here is more information, from a press release from the Kennel Club:

Veterinary Satellite Meeting

For breeders, dog owners, veterinary surgeons & nurses
1700 – 2100hs Friday 26th October 2007

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to the historic town of
Rugby, to join a meeting of specialists in syringomyelia, at an
international Symposium arranged by the Ann Conroy Trust, in association
with the University of Birmingham, the Society of British Neurological
Surgeons, the Spine Society of Europe and the Kennel Club.

Syringomyelia is one of the most common spinal cord disorders of toy
breed dogs and has been reported in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel,
King Charles Spaniel, Griffon Bruxellois, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese
Terrier, Chihuahua, Miniature Dachshund, Miniature &Toy Poodle, Bichon
Frise, Pug, Shih Tzu, Pomeranian, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Boston
Terrier, Pekingese, Miniature Pinscher, and French Bulldog. The most
common clinical signs are pain, scratching at the neck and shoulders and
walking difficulty.

Presentations

*
Canine syringomyelia
Dr. Clare Rusbridge, Stone Lion Veterinary Centre

*
Human chiari malformation and syringomyelia
Mr. Graham Flint, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham

*
The search for the gene(s) predisposing to chiari I malformation with
syringomyelia
Dr. Guy Rouleau, Director, Center for the Study of Brain Diseases,
University of Montreal

*
Breeding for health in pedigree dogs: optimisation of breeding
strategies to reduce inherited disease
Dr Sarah Blott, Animal Health Trust – sponsored by Hills

*
Experiences in surgery for canine syringomyelia
Dr. Dominic Marino, Long Island Veterinary Specialists – sponsored by
Novartis

*
Syringomyelia Question Time – Ask the Experts
Chaired by Dr. Bruce Fogle and sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health

Venue: Rugby School, Rugby, Warwickshire

Registration fee:

Veterinary Satellite meeting only - £45 (exclusive of buffet supper) £59
(inclusive of buffet supper)

General meeting Syringomyelia 2007 Friday 26th Oct - £150 (inclusive
full lecture programme, veterinary satellite meeting, lunch, buffet
supper and refreshments)

For registration and more detailed information go to
www.syringomyelia2007.org or contact

Administration and Delegate Coordinator – Barbara Masters

Email: admin@syringomyelia2007.org

Tel +44(0)1788 537676 Fax +44 (0) 1788 569996

Submit your questions to the experts!

The specialists panel at the upcoming international conference on syringomyelia in Rugby, England, October 26th, NEED YOUR QUESTIONS! Anyone can submit questions so don't be shy!

Both breeders and pet owners are very welcome to submit any question they would like addressed by this special session panel. I should be there to take notes, and others will also be there to take notes, and report back on the answers. This panel was especially set up to let all of us ask the things we are wondering about with this condition.

There are two sets of question coordinators -- two pet owners who will collate the pet owner questions, and two breeders who will coordinate the breeder questions.

Pet questions can go to Carol Fowler or Sandy Smith:

carol@fowler1000.fslife.co.uk
smithfam@cogeco.ca

Breeder questions can go to Sue Robinson: sue.robinson0@talk21.com or to Veronica Hull, chair of the Southern UK CKCS Club.

More information here: http://board.cavaliertalk.com/showthread.php?t=20181

Please don't lose this great opportunity to ask anything you'd like. This panel has some of the world's experts on SM in cavaliers and will be chaired by well know vet author Dr Bruce Fogle.

NB: You need to get questions in right away, as the coordinators need to submit them in advance for the panelists.

New Rusbridge bulletin: head shape project

Clare Rusbridge and Penny Knowler have just released this news update:

SYRINGOMYELIA NEWS April/May 2007

A research update
By Clare Rusbridge and Penny Knowler
Stone Lion Veterinary Centre, 41 High Street, Wimbledon, London, SW19 5AU
neuro.vet@btinternet.com (CR) Confidential Fax: 020 87860525
penny.knowler@ntlworld.com (SPK)

The knowledge, experience and support of breeders and pet owners continue to play an essential part into the research for Chiari-like malformation and Syringomyelia.

Preliminary results of pilot study looking at the possible correlation between head shape and CM/SM in different toy breeds.

In response to some observations made by breeders on head shape, a simple pilot study was devised. Dogs were selected on the basis of head length/breadth ratio, degree of doming and presence or absence of a ski-slope shape to the back of the head. CM/SM status was confirmed by MRI. Early results of this pilot study found no correlation, however the investigation is still ongoing. This study has been a tremendously valuable exercise in other ways. On the basis of head shape, some dogs had been presumed to be affected and owners had originally elected against MRI screening. However some of these dogs were actually found to be free of the condition. This suggests that it is not yet possible to predict CM/SM by a visual assessment of head shape. It also provided the
opportunity to obtain blood DNA samples for the Genome study in Montreal*. In particular, we would like to thank Lee Pieterse for co-ordinating the project in Australia. She and her husband Frank also contributed $4000 towards the research. Sandy Smith in Canada, generously donated $8000 from the ‘For the Love of Ollie’ Fund. An additional sum of $4000 came from the ‘Syringomyelia DNA Research’ Fund. Total $16,000.

‘For the Love of Ollie’ Fund and Syringomyelia DNA Research Fund is continuing to support the identification of
i) SM clear lines of dogs in breeds where CM/SM is emerging
ii) SM clear and affected dogs for DNA studies including association studies to help identify the gene in the more severely affected CKCS breed.

We welcome both information and financial support to continue this work. Donations can be made in a variety of ways www.fortheloveofollie.com/ and http://sm.cavaliertalk.com/ Donations ‘Syringomyelia DNA Research’

*The genome research aims to:
i) Identify the gene/s involved in CM/SM and how they bring about the condition.
ii) Develop better treatment strategies for affected dogs in all breeds.
iii) Develop a genetic test to identify carriers for breeding purposes to reduce or eliminate the CM/SM condition in different breeds.

Neurologists minutes from London meeting

The researchers and neurologists who attended the London SM Conference in November sponsored by the UK CKCS Club (see earlier posts) have issued a statement that summarises their closed session round table discussion and includes two documents that were agreed upon for general use and recommendation at the discussion: revised breeding guidelines for cavalier breeders and a revised pain scoring system for assessing cavaliers with SM.

The key aspect of the breeding guidelines that has altered is the removal of the former catagories A* and B for grading cavaliers. Reasons for doing this are noted in the minutes.

The minutes and the documents are all available as downloadable documents at the CKCS SM Infosite in the "Research" section, subsection "London 11/06" then "Minutes".

NCSU full reports now available; new PSOM study to begin

The ACKCSC has made available online the two reports that resulted from the North Carolina State University study on SM and CSF flow:

http://www.ackcsccharitabletrust.org/ncsu-flowreport.htm
http://www.ackcsccharitabletrust.org/ncsureport.htm

The Trust is also about to launch a study on PSOM (primary secretory otitis media, or 'glue ear' in cavaliers) at Ohio State University. Research is to be conducted by Lynette Cole DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVD & Andrew Hillier BVSc, MACVSc, Dipl. ACVD, of the Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Dermatology Service. The Trust will be making a PSOM fact sheet available on its web site in future. People may contact OSU to find out if their cavalier could be considered for participation: call OSU at (614) 292-3551.

Nov 11th SM conference update

The program for the November 11th one-day London gathering of researchers and neurologists on SM is now finalised and can be viewed here:

http://www.thecavalierclub.co.uk/health/syringo/confprog.html

General information, as noted previously, is here:

http://www.thecavalierclub.co.uk/health/syringo/smconf.html

Please note that the registration time has been moved forward to 8:30 am. If you are interested in attending you will need to secure a ticket in advance; contact details at the second link above or can be found in the previous weblog post.

International SM conference in UK in November

A number of internationally known neurologists and vet specialists with a focus on syringomyelia will present papers on their area of expertise in Hatfield, Hertfordshire (just north of London) on November 11th in a conference sponsored by pharma company Boehringer Ingelheim and the UK CKCS Club Research Fund.

The morning session, during which the papers are to be presented, is open to the public with an interest in this area, by ticket only. An afternoon closed session will enable the specialists to discuss and exchange ideas and perhaps draw some general conclusions or agree on some areas of focus for research and interpretation of results.



Location:

The Royal Veterinary College
Hawkshead Lane
North Mymms
Hatfield
Hertfordshire
AL9 7TA

Saturday, 11th November 2006.
10am- 4.30pm

Registration: 9.30am. Conference commences: 10.00am
Ticket price £25.00 to include morning coffee/tea, lunch and information pack

For information on tickets and the conference, contact:

Margaret Carter (Tel: 01707-262035) or email mareve-ckcs@ntlworld.com

More information can also be found here: http://www.thecavalierclub.co.uk/health/syringo/smconf.html