Cause for Wrinkles in Shar Pei Dogs Clarifies the Reason to Human Fever Syndromes

Hereditary periodic fever syndromes in human beings have been found to have a link with genetic mutation in the Shar-Pei dogs that is responsible for sagging or wrinkled skin in the breed!

The news on "Wrinkles in Shar Pei Dogs Clarifies the Reason to Human Fever Syndromes" has created a sensational buzz across the media... not only around the world wide web, but also across the entire media stream, including medical journals, videos, news releases and so on...

Human Fever Syndromes are characterized by repeated episodes of fever, accompanied with inflammation. Until the discovery of the root to the cause was made by a group of scientists, the pathogenic or autoimmune reasons were unknown. The team of researchers had burnt their midnight oil to unearth the cause of human fever syndrome. Studies have shown that it has been the same gene mutation that causes wrinkled skin in Shar Pei Dogs, is also the cause of inflammatory disease in human beings - human fever syndrome!

The gene mutation which brings excessively thick wrinkles in the skin of Shar-Pei dogs - sometimes called "wrinkle dogs" is also linked to a periodic fever disorder in human beings. A team of well versed US researchers discovered that the gene mutation that have been playing role in exhibiting wrinkles in Shar Pei could also have its implications on Human Fever Syndromes.

Owners and enthusiasts of Shar Pei dogs are well aware of the fact that this beautiful dog breed suffers from periodic fever disorder, although this problem have been brought under control through selective breeding. This problem is obviously one of the major reasons that have been diminishing the popularity of the breed. Scientists have been working hard to research on the inherited auto-inflammatory periodic fever syndromes in human beings, and finally found a resemblance to the periodic fever disorder in Shar Pei.

The heavily wrinkled skin of Shar pei is the consequence of excessive hyaluronan. hyaluronan is actually an anionic, nonsulfated glycosaminoglycan that is heavily distributed all through the connective, epithelial as well as neural tissues. In Shar Pei dogs, the over-activation of a gene called hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) is the basic cause of heavy wrinkles on skin. Alongside, the over-activation of hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) gene is also the root to periodic fever disorder in Shar Pei... documented by the scientists at the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Mass., and Uppsala University in Sweden. scientists have also mentioned that this finding, which was published in the March 17 online edition of the journal PLoS Genetics, will help the doctors and researchers improve their understanding of human inflammatory diseases.

According to the senior author Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, "the finding that hyaluronan is a major trigger of fever opens a new research field in canine and human inflammatory disease." Researchers have determined that in 60% of cases the genetic cause for periodic fever syndromes in human beings remain un-noticed.



Funding: This project had been supported and funded by the Swedish Research Council; FORMAS; the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences, and Spatial Planning; the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research; in part by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health; the Chinese Shar-Pei Charitable Trust and the European Commission (FP7-LUPA, GA-201370).

The fund providers had no role in structuring the design of study, collecting data and analyzing the information. The funders also had no roles in formulating decision to publish or preparing the manuscript.

Competing interests: The authors KL-T (who have been rewarded with EURYI award from the European Science Foundation), MO, and LT have filed a patent for development of a genetic test.

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Law suit against Winston - the Shar Pei : Wrinkle Dog

Tid bits on Chinese Shar Pei - The Wrinkle Dog, and Law suit against Winston the Shar Pei

The Chinese Shar Pei also called just "Shar Pei" is a medium large dog with growing popularity all over the world. The name "Shar-Pei" means "sandy coat". The Wrinkles almost all though its body, square profile with a heavily wrinkled broad and flat head, wide muzzle, dark almond eyes and blue tongue (like Chow chow) have given it a typically unique look and set the dog apart from other dog breeds. Their very small high set triangular ears with moderately rounded tip is also typical of the breed. Interestingly another special thing about Shar pei is his finely pointed and extremely high set thick tail with a tapered base. Another interesting fact about Shar Pei is its uncertain origin. The ancestry of the Shar-Pei is not know clearly. Evidences in the pictures on pottery suggest that the breed had existed even as far back as 206 BC, which make us conclude that Shar pei is one of the oldest known dog breeds in the world. Owing to the similarity in the color of tongue (blue or purple) in shar Pei and Chow Chow, it may be concluded that Shar Pei is a descendant of the Chow Chow.

Again most important as well as interesting fact about shar Pei is his heavily wrinkled skin. What once most dog breeders, owners and newbie knew about Shar pei has been proved to be wrong. Yes,the wrinkles in Shar Pei is a genetic or hereditary disorder, which most of the learned and responsible Shar Pei breeders are keeping in
forefront of their minds while breeding their dogs. Selective breeding is hereby necessary and we have noticed that wrinkles in shar pei are gradually decreasing... this is undoubtedly a developmental process in the breed.

Researchers at "Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona" - UAB have come up with the mystery about heavy Wrinkles of Shar Pei dogs revealed! The scientists discovered the origin of dermal mucinosis (broad clinical and histologic category of diseases) that is present in the breed and haas been genetically passed no to the progenitors from dams and sires on breeding. This is a hereditary health disorder, which is responsible for the characteristic wrinkles in Shar Pei, according to the scientists

Lluís Ferrer, Maria José Docampo, Giordana Zanna, Anna Bassols and Dolors Fondevila from the UAB, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. A report of this discovery on the mystery of Shar Pei wrinkles was published in the journals Veterinary Dermatology and Journal of Heredity.

So this was something that most people have been wondering about. Let us now delve deeper into Shar Pei temperament and character trait.

Very recently a lawsuit has been filed against a Shar Pei named "Winston" at Tenafly court, where the Municipal Court judge had to make decision on whether a Shar Pei — a dog whose Birchwood Place neighbors claim "terrorizes the neighborhood" — is vicious, potentially dangerous or neither, after an attack on a 10-pound toy poodle named Ricky on Oct. 30, 2010, sadly resulting to death of the victim. Frankel, the owner of the toy poodle (Ricky) said while he was cleaning up leaves on his yard, the Shar-Pei "came bolting out of nowhere and attacked my dog." Frankel said that he was able to separate the dogs and could pick up his dog Ricky to protect it, but the Shar Pei somehow squirmed out of his hands attacked again. He separated the two dogs the second time as well and secured the leash of the Shar-Pei while the poodle sought protection underneath a parked car.

Gina A. Calogero, the attorney representing Thomas Frankel said that if Winston - the Shar Pei is declared vicious by the courts, the dog could be humanely destroyed.
If the dog is considered as potentially dangerous, then his owner owner Domini Sheets would have to take necessary precautionary measures to protect the public including muzzling the dog and posting warning signs at her home. Now most of us have a question. What does these terms ("Viciousness" and "potentially dangerous") mean according to law and how according to the Law these characters are different? Why should a dog be killed ("humanely destroyed") if at all he is proved to be vicious? Is this a solution? The Municipal Court Judge Allen M. Bell adjourned the case until January 19, 2010. Hope the next hearing would determine the Shar Pei Winston to be potentially dangerous and NOT Vicious.

This issue has stigmatized the breed in general. It is an appeal not to consider Shar Pei as a dangerous breed, just because Winston has attacked Ricky to death. It is important to know what went wrong in Winston's mind at that point of time when he attacked Ricky. Winston has been impounded at the county’s animal shelter in Teterboro following the Oct. 30, 2010 attack on Ricky - the toy poodle. Impounding Winston is nothing but a mental torture on the dog, and he should be released immediately and returned to Sheet, his owner. It is to remember that winston is not human and cannot realize why he has been kept away from his owner. Hence impounding him is again an unwise act on part of the legal officers. Ricky's death is undoubtedly a shocking issue, but impounding Winston and "humanely destroyed" him cannot mitigate Frankel's pain. I think Winston is the SIN; Sheets is the SINNER. If anybody should be sued, its not the dog but his owner for being so irresponsible towards her pet. Sheets should be held responsible for not putting Winston to proper training session and for her incapability of handling a pet safely. Such attacks are dangerous for both, the one who attacks and for the one who is attacked.

Here's the character traits of Shar Pei

Temperament

Shar Pei is a very loyal breed. He is quite intelligent. In fact more intelligent than many other dog breeds. He is very active, playful, brave and dominant. His dominant nature sometimes drives his attack instincts, which should be kept controlled through proper training and good amount of exercise. The Shar-Pei, being dominant, requires confident handlers and owners. If you too mild and soft by nature, in the dog's eyes, your Shar Pei will try to take over as the alfa member, which will break the pack balance. They are not always unfriendly to the strangers. The Shar-Pei is easy-going, independent and a clam breed, and devoted towards his pack members. They are good watchdogs. Due to its dominant nature Shar Pei cannot be easily mixed with other breeds of milder characters. It is the owners' responsibility to socialize their Shar Pei to the proper degree.

Winston has turned out to be a victim of his own dominating nature. May be unplanned breeding program of Winston's breeder has resulted progenitors like Winston. It is not necessary that Winston's siblings will be of same nature, but chances are there that Winston's attacking tendency is a breeding fault. Impounding Winston and humanely destroying him will be an unwise act. Please think twice... and thrice.

One more thing... Frankel said Wednesday he was relieved the dog remained impounded and was not in the neighborhood. Frankel, being a dog lover you cannot say that. Impounding Winston is a torture towards him. I can feel your pain of loosing your kid Ricky, but still you cannot be revealed for torturing Winston. He is not a human, he is the sin not the sinner.

Here are some Links to German Shepherd Dogs in news

• Loudest German Shepherd Dog
• German Shepherd Dog Skull
• Bondage With a Guide GSD
• GSD Breed Standard Amendment
• Seiger Show Results 2010
• Seiger Show Results, 2009
• Illegal Euthanizing of 7 GSD
• GSD Surrogate Mother

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Interesting Facts About Shar Pei - The Wrinkle Dog

Interesting Wrinkle Dog Facts – A Bit More About Shar Pei

The last weekend I borrowed a book on Shar Pei – the Wrinkle Dog from one of my dog lover pals. She is not a Shar Pei owner, but just for the sake of interest she had purchased the book. I have some documents on Shar Pei too and would like to share some of the most interesting facts about these amazing dog breed with you guys.

Shar Pei is one of the highly intelligent dog breed with independent and dignified character. Quite snobbish by nature these wrinkle dogs are sometimes standoffish with the unknowns. Shar Pei is a good family pet with loyalty and devotion to the family in full swing. Highly alert, courageous and confident, yet calm, the wrinkle dogs have a history as guard dogs and herders.

Here are some really interesting facts about the Shar Pei dog breed. Read on…

• The name "Shar-Pei" actually means "sand coat".
• Shar Pei – the wrinkle dog is amongst the few non-shedding dog breeds. However, they may shade very little and occasionally.
• Shar Pei dogs are probably one of those freed dog breeds in the world that come in wide range of colors. Shar Pei’s color range includes red, fawn, sand, black and even blue and lilac.
• A Shar-Pei can also have what is known as “dilute" pigmentation. That means the nose leather, nails and the anal region have the same color as the coat itself. Fact is all these coloration have been officially accepted provided the coat color has to be a solid color and uniformly blended all over the body.
• This dog breed resembles the Chow Chow – another rare Chinese breed for having bluish black tongue. Lavender tongue is not disqualification in Shar Pei but not desirable. Pink tongue like the other dog breeds and spotted tongue is a disqualification.
• There are three distinctive types of Shar Pei dog breed. While some have lots of wrinkles, others don’t. Horse Coat and Brush Coat are the couple of short coat versions . Bear Coat version has comparatively longer coat. The Horse coat version is rather shorter version of the two short coat varieties.
• Horse coat variety had been the original coat type before the breed was actually introduced to America.
• Interestingly, unlike most dog breeds the Shar Pei has an intense dislike of water, but they have been reported to have tendencies of getting into ponds and lakes according to their own will. First time owners should aware of the fact that they should be well trained and tactically introduced to bath.
• These wrinkle dogs have descended from the Guangdong province of China. Originally the Shar-pei used to be a lot different from what we see in the western countries. These days the Chinese and people from Hong Kong tend to differentiate the wrinkle dogs as western types Shar-pei and original type Shar-pei.
• Researchers have analyzed of DNA of the Shar-pei dogs and have concluded that this breed is amongst the most ancient dog breeds that exist these days.
• Shar-pei dogs are prone to a typically inherited disease called Shar Pei Fever, which is also known as "Swollen Hock Syndrome". Shar Pei Fever makes the dog suffer a 24 hour fever, accompanied with swelling of joints and affects kidneys, leading to renal failure.
• Shar Pei has been officially recognized by CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR.

Learn WHY SHAR PEI DOGS HAVE SO MANY WRINKLES in their body!

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Shar Pei - The Wrinkle Dogs: A Long Held Mystery Unfolded

With just a week or so to go before Mr. Barack Obama to be sworn in, the hype is at its zenith! Today's breaking news is, an incredible number of around four million people, including Bono and Beyoncé is going to be attending the Obama inauguration! Starting this weekend, as many as 10,000 buses, innumerable cabs, trains and air vehicles are going top ferry upwards of this huge volume of mass into Washington DC. The hype is really at it's peak... and Mr. Obama seems to be not paying much attention on the First Dog issue - his commitments to his daughter. I'll write about Obama Dog when he will be up to it again. Until then, I am sure, he's not going to change his focus from Labradoodle or a Portugese Water Hound.

So let's take a turn towards a bit different stuff about dogs. Here's something that most of the dog lovers have been wondering about. Why Shar pei have so much of wrinkles? The mystery's revealed. The article has been adapted from an extract provided by "Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona" - UAB. A group of scientists at the UAB have been burning their midnight oil to trace out the secret about the heavy wrinkles in SharPei dogs. They discovered the origin of mucinosis - rather dermal mucinosis (broad clinical and histologic category of diseases) that is present in the breed. This is a hereditary health disorder, which is responsible for the characteristic wrinkles of this dog breed. The study was carried out by scientists Lluís Ferrer, Maria José Docampo, Giordana Zanna, Anna Bassols and Dolors Fondevila from the UAB, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a report of this appeared in the journals Veterinary Dermatology and Journal of Heredity.

In the report the researchers talked about a genetic alteration in Shar Pei dogs, which multiplies the activity of an enzyme that produces excessive hyaluronic acid in abnormally excess amount. Hyaluronic acid is one of the major components found in the space between tissue cells. The excess production hyaluronic acid, gathers under the skin and makes the skin of Shar Pei wrinkled, which is a disease. The age old belief that the wrinkles of Shar Pei skin are a natural charecteristics, has now been proved wrong! According to the scientists its a disease caused by the accumulation of excessive hyaluronic acid in the sub-cutaneous region as well as in their blood stream too. Scientists have isolated fibroblast cell cultures from the Shar Pei's skin, which allowed them to demonstrate how synthesis of hyaluronic acid is produced in high amounts due to an hyper activity of the HAS2 enzyme - one of the three enzymes that encourages the synthesis of acid in mammals.

If this is a disease anyway, the Shar Pei breeders would need to understand the molecular mechanism and have to choose for a more scientific and selective breeding programmes, with a motive to make life better for Shar Pei dogs. I think, happy days for the Shar pei are not away. Re-designing of Shar Pei breeding program is the only solution to this health disorder in Shar Pei dogs, according to the researchers.

All shar pei photos are taken from net

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