Development and validation of a diagnostic test for Ridge allele copy number in Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs
© Waldo and Diaz; licensee BioMed Central. 2015
Received: 21 August 2014
Accepted: 13 January 2015
Published: 27 January 2015
The breed-defining dorsal ridge in Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs is the result of a 133,000 base pair duplication on chromosome 18. Because this trait is dominant, heterozygous dogs cannot be discriminated from those with two copies of the Ridge allele.
A quantitative PCR test was developed and dogs of known genotype were used as test subjects. In all cases, the correct genotype was determined experimentally.
This work provides a rapid and accurate methodology for determining dog genotype with respect to the Ridge allele.
KeywordsCopy number variation Genotyping qPCR Rhodesian Ridgeback Dermoid sinus
The breed-defining ridge on the back (dorsal ridge) of Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs is the due to the presence of a duplication of a specific region on chromosome 18, which has resulted in multiple gene copies.
This particular duplication includes the Ridge gene, and dogs having this duplication on one of their two chromosome* 18s will have three copies of the gene (1+2 not 1+1), while dogs with a duplication on both their chromosomes will have four copies (2+2 not 1+1). Dogs with no duplication will have two copies of the gene (1+1), but this results in no dorsal ridge. As the ridge trait is dominant, heterozygous dogs (with one duplication) cannot be discriminated from those with two duplications of the Ridge allele.
A DNA test has been developed and dogs of known genotype were used as test subjects. In all these test samples, the correct genotype was determined experimentally.
This work provides a rapid and accurate methodology for determining dog genotype with respect to the Ridge allele status. The DNA test now needs to be extended to a larger group of dogs, so as to confirm its reliability and effectiveness as a diagnostic test.
*Remember: each dog has one copy of each chromosome from each parent. So there are two copies of each chromosome and all the genes on them. However, because one set has come from each parent, they may not contain the same version of some genes on both chromosome pairs.
Modern genomic approaches have revealed the molecular basis for a variety of breed-specific traits and/or conditions. A particular copy number variation (CNV) plays an important role in the development of the breed-defining dorsal ridge in two related breeds, the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Thai Ridgeback .
Specifically, duplication of a ~133,000 bp region on chromosome 18 has been identified in all dogs exhibiting a ridge; this duplication is absent in dogs without a ridge . Previous work  indicated that the ridge trait is inherited in a dominant fashion; thus a single copy of this duplication results in appearance of a ridge, and dogs with two copies of the duplication are indistinguishable from dogs with one copy. We refer to this duplication as the Ridge allele.
Dogs with two copies of the Ridge allele are at substantially greater risk for the development of dermoid sinus , a neural tube defect that is caused by incomplete separation of tissue layers during development. Affected dogs develop an inappropriate connection between the dermal surface and the spinal cord. This growth can become infected and lead to the development of abscesses and sepsis. In many cases, dermoid sinus can be fatal. Of twelve dogs with dermoid sinus examined, ten were shown to have two copies of the Ridge allele . There are no reports of dermoid sinus in ridgeless dogs .
Therefore, there are two selection pressures are being applied simultaneously to the Ridge allele by modern breeding practices. The ridge is important to breed identity (in fact, a ridgeless Rhodesian Ridgeback cannot be AKC registered), so there is no desire to remove dogs harboring this dominant mutation from the breeding pool. However, in some dogs, the Ridge allele will lead to the development of dermoid sinus, a malady that we would like to select against. In order to make truly informed decisions about how to breed these dogs—to minimize dermoid sinus and maximize ridge appearance—a way to discriminate between dogs with one and two copies of the Ridge allele would be useful.
In order to genotype Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs for the Ridge allele, conventional DNA sequencing is not sufficient; other methodologies must be employed. Multiplex Ligation dependent Genome Amplification (MLGA) has been used for Ridge allele genotyping . While reportedly fast and accurate, this approach requires analysis of products by capillary electrophoresis and other analytical techniques that are not available in laboratories without certain types of DNA sequencing equipment. A variety of other methods have been used for CNV genotyping, ranging from conventional Southern blotting to next-generation high-throughput DNA sequencing. Frequently, a microarray or quantitative PCR approach is taken . Because of our familiarity with the technique and its relatively low cost, we chose SYBR Green-based quantitative PCR as the basis for a Ridge allele genotyping test. As described below, this protocol is relatively easy to perform and reliably produces accurate genotype results for dogs of known genotype.
To characterize these primer pairs, a serial dilution of canine DNA was subjected to amplification (Figure 1B). In theory, each cycle of PCR should result in a doubling of the amount of target sequence; when this occurs, it is referred to as 100% efficiency. For all primer pairs, the amplification efficiency was near 100% when tested on dogs without the ridge allele (see inset, Figure 1B), or dogs harboring one or two copies of the duplication (not shown). This finding allowed us to ignore this variable in our genotyping analysis, since all primer sets amplified with similar efficiency . In addition, analysis of melt curves of the products generated was consistent with the production of a single amplicon, with no evidence of primer-dimer formation (not shown).
Test validation on dogs of known genotype
Average Ct values for various dogs (SEM)
Ridgeless mixed breed dog (rr)
Ridgeless Rhodesian Ridgeback (rr)
Rhodesian Ridgeback with 1 Ridge allele (Rr)
Rhodesian Ridgeback with 2 Ridge alleles (RR)
The Ct values can be used to determine the relative amount of DNA in the starting material for each reaction. Two control aspects must be considered in this calculation. First, the amount of DNA in the repeated region is compared to the amount of DNA in the control region (outside of the repeat). This concept is illustrated in Figure 1C, where we see that a dog without a ridge would be expected to possess the same amount of DNA within and without the repeat region, while a Rr dog would have 50% more repeat region DNA and a RR dog would have 100% more repeat region DNA than the control region. A second point of comparison is used to correct for differences in the amplification products themselves. Here, we compare the test dogs (in this case three Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs of different genotypes) to the control mixed breed dog. This allows us to calculate Relative Copy Number (RCN); a value that is relative to the copy number found in the control mixed breed dog. Thus, for a test sample from a dog without a ridge, the relative copy number (RCN) should be 1, while a dog with a single copy of the Ridge allele would be expected to generate a RCN of 1.5 and a dog with two Ridge alleles would be expected to generate a 2.0.
This experiment was repeated four times, so that average CRN values could be compared to each other (Figure 2B). ANOVA revealed that the three means were statistically distinguishable (p << 0.05) and all pairwise combinations showed statistically significant differences (p << 0.05). Thus, our test provides unambiguous results for each of the genotypes tested.
Utility of test for predicting genotype
Genotype assignments for five test dogs
Average RCN (SEM)
Different than rr?
Different than Rr?
Different than RR?
Known info about dog
Female, produced ridgeless puppies
Female, has dermoid sinus, no offspring
Male, produced ridgeless puppies
Female, ridgeless Rhodesian Ridgeback
Male, produced only ridged puppies
For years, the genetic basis for the Ridge allele has been understood , but there has not been a validated methodology available for genotyping individual dogs. This work shows that a rapid and relatively inexpensive qPCR approach works to correctly call genotype.
Collecting saliva samples from dogs is straightforward and easily accomplished by most dog owners. Once a sample is received through the mail, DNA extraction and quantification takes less than three hours, and multiple samples can be processed simultaneously. Setting up the reactions, running the protocol and evaluating the results takes approximately 4 hours. Thus, results can be obtained within a very short time period. The primary expense associated with this protocol is the labor associated with processing the samples, the saliva collection kit, and qPCR reagents. All together, it is reasonable to expect that a well-equipped lab could provide this service at a price-point comparable to other canine genetic tests.
Genotyping of the Ridge allele in Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs addresses a fairly unique problem. Genetic transmission of the allele is desired, as the ridge trait is a hallmark of the breed. At the same time, the Ridge allele is associated with a severe health problem for some dogs. Without the ability to accurately determine a dog’s genotype with respect to the Ridge allele, breeders have had to make guesses about dogs when planning breedings. This type of approach can generate puppies that are undesirable, either as ridgeless dogs or as dogs with dermoid sinus. Both of these outcomes can be minimized if a dog’s Ridge genotype is known prior to breeding. For example, if a dog is determined to be homozygous for the Ridge allele, mating with a heterozygous dog (rather than another homozygote) should decrease the appearance of dermoid sinus in the offspring.
While surgery exists as an option for puppies with dermoid sinus, a far better solution would be to prevent this condition in the first place. Some preliminary work has looked at the role of folate supplementation before and during pregnancy in preventing dermoid sinus . This connection is somewhat logical given the role that folate supplementation has been shown to play in preventing neural tube defects in humans . However, this work did not explore the direct connection between genotype and dermoid sinus, so the role of folate as a preventative agent is as yet unsettled. Therefore, the basis for the ambiguous genetics associated with dermoid sinus may be due to environmental factors, additional as-yet unidentified genetic contributions, or a combination of these two.
This Ridge allele genotyping test provides a basis for exploring the environmental and/or genetic factors that contribute to the development of dermoid sinus in dogs homozygous for the Ridge allele. For example, a well-designed test can now be developed that will address the question of whether pre-natal folate supplementation has a role in preventing dermoid sinus. Being able to accurately genotype dogs in such a study will allow for an experimental effect to be more accurately detected. In addition, a genome wide association screen to detect genetic contributions to the development of dermoid sinus can now be designed that utilizes RR dogs with dermoid sinus as the cases and RR dogs without dermoid sinus as the controls.
We have developed a test for accurately determining the genotype of Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs with respect to the copy number of the Ridge allele.
Dogs and DNA samples
All dogs used in this study were in the care of their owners. Breeding histories, when appropriate, were collected by interviewing the dogs’ owners. DNA samples were collected by sending dog owners Oragene Animal OA-400 (DNA Genotek, Canada) animal saliva collection kits and asking them to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for saliva collection and then send the kit back via mail. DNA was purified in our laboratory following the manufacturers instructions. Following purification, DNA was quantified via Nanodrop (ThermoScientific) and diluted in dH20 to an appropriate working concentration. This protocol was reviewed by the SUNY New Paltz Animal Care and Use Committee, and owners provided consent for the procedures.
Reactions were generally designed in quadruplicate in a final volume of 10 μl and contained 1X iTaq SYBR Green Master Mix (BioRad), 400 nM forward and reverse primers and 2 ng genomic DNA. Amplification (Bio Rad CFX96) was initiated with a 5 minute incubation at 95°C, and then 40 cycles of 95°C for 5 sec followed by 60°C for 30 sec. Melt curve analysis was employed to ensure single product of the appropriate size was generated. Primers used were: Set 1: 5′ TGCCGCTCAGATGATCAAC3′ and 5′TCTGCTTTTCTCTGCTCCC3′, Set 2: 5′ATTGGCAGTGTCCGTGTGAG3′ and 5′AAGCCCCGCAGACAATGAAC3′, Set 3: 5′GCATCCACCTAAGCAATCTG3′ and 5′CCCTATTCTCTTCCACCCATC3′, Set 4: 5′GCTTCTGCTTTGATACCCTTC3′ and 5′GTTCTGCAACAGCATCTCC3′.
To calculate primer efficiency, we employed the equation E = (2(−1/slope)/2) ∗ 100. All primer pairs ranged from 97–100% efficiency, thus eliminating the need to correct for primer efficiency in subsequent calculations.
Relative copy number (RCN) was calculated by a variation of the ddCt method . In our case, RCN = (2^(Ct control dog:repeat region – Ct test dog:repeat region)/(2^(Ct control dog:control region – Ct test dog:control region), where contol dog refers to a mixed breed dog without a ridge, test dog refers to the dog being genotyped, repeat region refers to the region on chromosome 18 within the repeated region (amplified by primer set 1 or 2), and control region refers to the region on chromosome 18 just outside of the repeated region (amplified by primer sets 3 or 4). Since four primer sets were used, we could calculate this value by comparing primer set 1 to 3 and 4 and primer set 2 to 3 and 4. Thus, four RCN values could be determined in each experiment. These values were then averaged to generate an Average RCN value. Experiments were repeated at least three times so that SEM values could be determined and used in paired t-tests in order to substantiate genotype calls.
This work was funded, in part, by an NSF MRI grant (1039966), by the SUNY New Paltz Student Association, the NSF LS-AMP program and the New York State C-STEP program. We are grateful to Emily Rouse for early work on this project and David Richardson for consultation regarding statistical approaches. This work is made possible by the generous assistance of many Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders, who donated saliva samples from their dogs for analysis.
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