Chernobyl Super Dogs???

Hello Summarians!

A wide range of topics today. Hard to believe it has over 30 years since the worst nuclear/enviromental disaster ever. One article explores some of the research that is currently available.

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Long Term Heart Monitor in Horses

Long-term implantation of the Reveal XT cardiac monitor in adult horses is feasible, well tolerated, and devices can function reliably without complications. However, the human-based analyzer algorithm used by the monitor did not accurately detect most arrhythmias automatically and was especially unreliable in identifying asystole and bradycardia, generating numerous false positives. While the device did record atrial fibrillation, both false positive and false negative detections occurred, and its assessment of the AF burden proved inaccurate. Manual interpretation of stored ECG recordings was necessary. Thus, although the monitor can be implanted successfully and record ECG data over extended periods, it cannot accurately determine the cause of episodic collapse in horses using its built-in human analyzer algorithm.

Kovács S, Bodó G, Tóth FZ, Néder L, Bakos Z. Long-term use of an implantable loop recorder for ECG recording in horses. Acta Vet Hung. 2024 Aug 22;72(3):178-185. doi: 10.1556/004.2024.01075. PMID: 39172517. 

Bottom line — Can be useful with caveats

DNA Changes with Chernobyl Dogs

This study focused on the genetic impact of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster on free-breeding dog populations living in the region. By comparing two dog populations—one residing at the power plant itself and another inhabiting Chernobyl City just 16 kilometers away—researchers found substantial genetic differentiation and almost no gene flow between them. Despite their close proximity and similar breed composition, these populations have evolved as genetically distinct groups, suggesting that either genetic drift or directional selection (or both) has shaped their divergence over multiple generations of environmental exposure. Through a genome-wide scan, researchers identified regions indicative of directional selection, including loci near genes involved in DNA repair, immune response, and calcium ion binding. One population showed reduced genetic diversity and increased inbreeding, suggesting distinct evolutionary pressures in that environment. This work begins to clarify how chronic exposure to radiation, heavy metals, and other contaminants has influenced the genetic makeup of these dogs. The findings lay the groundwork for further investigations into the role of environmental stressors in driving genetic adaptation, potentially offering insights that extend beyond the Chernobyl context to other environments affected by environmental disasters. 

Dillon, M.N., Thomas, R., Mousseau, T.A. et al. Population dynamics and genome-wide selection scan for dogs in Chernobyl. Canine Med Genet 10, 1 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-023-00124-1 

Bottom line — Intersting article about response to environmental disasters.

Oxidative Stress in Kidneys

This study examined urinary F2-isoprostanes (uF2-IsoPs) as markers of oxidative stress in dogs and cats with varying stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The results demonstrated that oxidative stress, as reflected by uF2-IsoPs levels, appears to be highest in the early stages of CKD and declines as the disease progresses, a finding that differs from the pattern observed in humans. Although no statistically significant difference was identified between healthy controls and animals at Stage 1 CKD, it is plausible that each remaining nephron in CKD patients undergoes greater oxidative stress despite the overall production being comparable to healthy animals. The observed decrease in oxidative stress in advanced CKD stages may be attributed to a reduction in metabolically active nephrons and a consequent decline in the generation of pro-oxidative by-products. The data suggest that therapeutic interventions targeting oxidative stress in the early stages of CKD could be more effective at slowing disease progression. Neither proteinuria nor the exclusive consumption of renal diets was clearly associated with changes in uF2-IsoPs. While these findings offer valuable insights, further research with larger cohorts, more precise nephron-level measurements, and controlled dietary interventions will be necessary to fully elucidate the relationship between oxidative stress and CKD progression in dogs and cats. 

Chen H, Segev G. Evaluation of oxidative stress in dogs and cats with chronic kidney disease. J Vet Intern Med. 2024; 38(6): 3105-3110. doi:10.1111/jvim.17230 

Bottom line — We need to supplement kidney dogs with fatty acids.

Just putting things in perspective …