Summer 2019 Saber Tails 43
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America
The health seminar at the 2019 PBGVCA National Spe-
cialty focused on eye diseases, including primary open
angle glaucoma (POAG). The seminar was presented by
Dr. András Komáromy, DVM, PhD, Professor of Small
Animal Clinical Sciences at Michigan State University.
Dr. Komáromy’s laboratory works to determine the mo-
lecular cause of inherited eye diseases in dogs and de-
velop treatment approaches. Sadly, his presentation was
not well attended, which led me to reflect on the Health
Committee’s recent emphasis on eye disease.
For the past several years, health seminars at National
Specialties and many Saber Tails articles have focused
on POAG. With all of this POAG hoopla, it is under-
standable that the PBGV community is suffering from
“POAG fatigue.”
People with POAG fatigue think that the crisis is mostly
over. They are desensitized to new information on eye
health and want us (the Health Committee) to talk
about other health issues. After all, the affected PBGVs
have been identified. Of the 19 affected PBGVs in North
America (as of February 2019), most have already devel-
oped symptoms and many have lost their sight. Breeders
know to plan only clear-to-clear or clear-to-carrier mat-
ings so that no new affected puppies will be born. So,
why are we still talking about POAG?
If you are one of those suffering from POAG fatigue, I
will try to entice you to read the rest of this article with
these tidbits from Dr. Komáromy’s talk:
• POAG is not the only eye disease that afflicts
PBGVS.
• Mutations in the ADAMTS17 gene leads to glaucoma
not only in the PBGV, but also in the Basset Fauve
de Bretagne, Basset Hound, and Chinese Shar-Pei, as
well as leading to primary lens luxation in 26 other
breeds!
• The PBGV community should be cautious about
‘clear by parentage’ certification.
• Gene therapy has been tested in Beagles with POAG
and is almost ready for PBGVs.
It’s not just POAG. In addition to inherited open angle
glaucoma, PBGVs are sporadically susceptible to closed
angle glaucoma, cataracts, lens luxation, and persistent
pupillary membranes. Thus, it is important that every
PBGV is examined periodically by a board-certified
veterinary ophthalmologist. Toward that end, the PB-
As we drive into the future, it is a wonderful
feeling to look in life’s rearview mirror and
watch the threat of POAG shrinking until it
disappears. But for POAG to truly disappear,
still requires careful breeding and testing of
puppies. Dr. Komáromy suggests caution on
the ‘clear by parentage’ designation.
Continued on pg. 44
GVCA Health Committee drew up an eye exam rec-
ommendation that was discussed and approved by the
Club’s Board of Directors. When presented to the PBGV
Health & Rescue Foundation, the Foundation voted to
allocate up to $10,000 towards an eye exam reimburse-
ment program. Please see the eye exam ad in this issue
of Saber Tails for details of the program and schedule an
appointment with a veterinary ophthalmologist today.
It’s not just PBGVs. Mutation in the ADAMTS17
gene, which leads to POAG in PBGVs, also leads to
POAG in two other scent hounds, the Basset Fauve de
Bretagne and the Basset Hound, as well as the Chinese
Shar-Pei. In addition, mutations in this same gene lead
to primary lens luxation in 26 other breeds, mostly small
terriers. Mutations in a related gene, ADAMTS10, lead
to POAG in Beagles and Norwegian Elkhounds. What
is the link between the ADAMTS17 gene and eye dis-
ease? This gene encodes a protein that is secreted by cells
throughout the body. The protein binds to the fibrous
scaffolding proteins that hold cells together. In the eye,
defective ADAMTS17 protein leads to weaker fibers that
hold the lens in place. With time, the lens becomes dis-
located. Dr. Komáromy speculates that instability of the
lens may be a first sign of open angle glaucoma, even
before increased pressure within the eye can be detected.
There is a Silver Lining in the Eye Disease Cloud
by Laura Liscum, Assistant Chairman, PBGVCA Health Committee