Disease Description: Cyclic haematopoiesis is a disease inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. It is associated with an insertion mutation in the gene AP3B1 and it results in defective production of blood cells by bone marrow stem cells.

Inherit Mode: The mode of inheritance is autosomal recessive. Both parents must carry the abnormal gene for the offspring to be affected.

Disease Symptom: This is a very serious disorder. These dogs are subject to severe recurring bacterial infections, primarily of the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract. Even with the best of care, affected dogs rarely live beyond 2 or 3 years of age.

Disease Cause: -

Disease Diagnose: Affected dogs have a light silver gray, possibly mixed with light beige, hair coat and a characteristic light coloured nose. Pups usually experience clinical illness by 8 to 12 weeks of age and are brought to the veterinarian at that time, if the breeder does not recognize the defect before then. The disorder is diagnosed based on the cyclic fluctuation in blood cell numbers, as well as the characteristic coat coloration.

Treat Method: The only practical treatment is supportive care and antibiotics during neutropenic episodes. Without supportive care, pups usually die before 6 months of age. Even with the best of care, including very close monitoring and antibiotics to counteract the variety of infections, these dogs usually die before 2 or 3 years of age. Bone marrow transplant and gene therapy have been attempted on an experimental basis.

Breeder Advice: As a rule, parents and littermates of affected dogs should not be used for breeding, to avoid perpetuating this lethal defect. HealthGene Laboratory offers a DNA-based test for canine cyclic hematopoiesis that identifies normals, carriers (heterozygous), and affected dogs, which will assist with judicious breeding.

Disease Description Source: Link