Genome-wide association analysis in West Highland White Terriers with atopic dermatitis

摘要

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common disease of dogs and humans. In both species, the interplay of genetic and environmental factors affect disease expression. In dogs with AD, differences in the breed studied and in their geographical origin have led to heterogeneity in genetic association and while different loci have been identified, a causative genetic mutation has not. We hypothesized that AD could be mapped in a large cohort of rigorously phenotyped, geographically restricted West Highland White Terriers (WHWT), a breed with a high prevalence of the disease.