Nasal parakeratosis in English Greyhounds

Nasal parakeratosis is an inherited skin disease that affects the skin on a dog's nose (the so-called nasal sponge). The disease manifests itself as a disorder of skin renewal, which becomes excessively keratinized, dry, and cracked. Thick crusts form on the nose, which can crack painfully and sometimes bleed.

In English greyhounds, the disease is caused by a mutation c.996+3_996+6del in the SUV39H2 gene. The mutation is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. This means that the disease only develops in individuals who inherit the mutated gene from both parents. Carriers of the mutated gene are clinically healthy but pass the mutation on to their offspring. In the case of mating two heterozygous individuals, theoretically 25% of the offspring will be completely healthy, 50% will be carriers, and 25% will inherit the mutated gene from both parents and will therefore be affected by the disease.

Genetic testing can clearly reveal an animal's genotype and is a useful tool for breeders to prevent the unintentional breeding of affected puppies.

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References:

Bauer, A., Nimmo, J., Newman, R., Brunner, M., Welle, M.M., Jagannathan, V., Leeb, T. : A splice site variant in the SUV39H2 gene in Greyhounds with nasal parakeratosis. Anim Genet 49:137-140, 2018. Pubmed reference: 29423952