Neuroaxonal Dystrophy (Giant Schnauzer Type)

Other Names: Fetal-onset neuroaxonal dystrophy, FNAD, NAD
Affected Genes: MFN2
Inheritance: Autosomal Recessive
Mutation: chr2:84289962-84289964 (canFam3): 3 bp deletion (GGA)
Breed(s): Giant Schnauzer

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Common Symptoms

Neuroaxonal dystrophy is an inherited neuromuscular disorder affecting dogs. This disorder affects the function of the motor nerve cells and disrupts normal muscle movement In Utero. Affected puppies die of respiratory failure at birth due to underdeveloped lungs. Their joints are contracted and immobile and their spines are curved. This condition is lethal because affected puppies cannot breathe on their own.

Testing Tips

Genetic testing of the MFN2 gene will reliably determine whether a dog is a genetic Carrier of neuroaxonal dystrophy. Neuroaxonal dystrophy is inherited in an Autosomal Recessive manner in dogs meaning that they must receive two copies of the mutated gene (one from each parent) to develop the disease. In general, carrier dogs do not have features of the disease but when bred with another carrier of the same Mutation, there is a risk of having affected pups. Each pup that is born to this pairing has a 25% chance of inheriting the disease and a 50% chance of inheriting one copy and being a carrier of the MFN2 gene mutation. Reliable genetic testing is important for determining breeding practices. In order to eliminate this mutation from breeding lines and to avoid the potential of producing affected pups, breeding of known carriers to each other is not recommended. Dogs that are not carriers of the mutation have no increased risk of having affected pups.

There may be other causes of this condition in dogs and a normal result does not exclude a different mutation in this gene or any other gene that may result in a similar genetic disease or trait.

References

  • Fyfe JC, Al-Tamimi RA, Castellani RJ, Rosenstein D, Goldowitz D, Henthorn PS. Inherited neuroaxonal dystrophy in dogs causing lethal, fetal-onset motor system dysfunction and cerebellar hypoplasia. J Comp Neurol. 2010 Sep 15;518(18):3771-84. [PubMed: 20653033]
  • Fyfe JC, Al-Tamimi RA, Liu J, Schäffer AA, Agarwala R, Henthorn PS. Neurogenetics. A novel mitofusin 2 mutation causes canine fetal-onset neuroaxonal dystrophy. 2011 Aug; 12(3):223-32. [PubMed: 21643798]