13th International BMD Health Symposium
Thursday 22nd September 2022
Hosted by the BMDC of GB as part of our
provided by
and chiefly sponsored by
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The first full day of our Golden Jubilee extravaganza was taken up by the Health Symposium, a chance to sit back and listen to a variety of presentations and join in the discussions at the end.
Dr Benoit Hedan explaining the ‘Histio’ situation to the Health Symposium audience.
Photos: Show Dog Media
This event was attended by almost 60 people from around 20 countries with over half of those being ‘overseas’ visitors. It was arranged by the BHI and chaired by Steve Green as Breed Health CoOrdinator who also later gave a brief summary of the BIWG meeting as is customary for the Chair of that meeting.
In his introduction to the meeting Steve reminded everyone that things would only improve if we made an effort and that there was more to making things better than just attending such events as this. It was great that people had come but this was only a day and we had find ways to make things happen in between these events. We all wanted things to improve but that would not just happen by wishing for it. He had a slide to help make the point.
Steve also presented a statement he had sought from Antagene clarifying the situation with regard to the HSIMS database and SH testing. Guillaume Queney, the President of Antagene, wished to assure the Bernese breed that things would be back to a functioning level very shortly and apologised for the updates and development of their online systems had taken so long to deliver. These are extracts from that statement.
The Main speakers were then presented, split by a buffet lunch. Click on the title screens to see their presentations.
Dr. Joanna Ilska: Genetics and health testing
Dr. Jacqueline Boyd: Whats Diet Got to Do with It?
Lori Jodar & Gary Galunas: Berner-Garde Updates
Prof. Steve Dunham: Current Issues in Canine Vaccination
Dr. Benoit Hedan: Molecular basis of canine histiocytic sarcoma in dogs
As is customary at these events, as the previous day’s BIWG Chair Steve also gave an overview of that meeting to the Health Symposium Overview of B-IWG Meeting
Representing the host country Steve also gave an short outline of how health is applied to UK Bernese and a couple of brief BMD health updates from the UK, namely an outline of a Cruciate survey the GB club had carried out and very briefly the latest summary of the ongoing Death Survey. You can read more about these surveys as well as much more in the Symposium booklet. (See page 28 for the Cruciate Survey summary)
DISCUSSION
A period for discussion was scheduled at the end of the day and as always this was a most informative session, (after a slow start!). The main subject that was brought up and discussed was Bernese fertility with concerns being expressed at the previous BIWG meeting. Several countries and breeders present reported issues both anecdotal and researched with the Swedish delegation again mentioning airport due out in full soon in Sweden. It was stated that the problem was something inherent in the breed, in fact in many breeds, and future action did not need to look into the fertility cycle or progesterone testing or mating practices as these were common place in many countries now and all serious breeder were well aware of them. Whilst the stories of problems seemed widespread, when the KC geneticist asked “how many breeders here have actually selected for fertility?” only 2 hands were raised. I think this point gave food for thought and the Chair subsequently suggested the delegates needed to go away and think of ways we could look into this issue further and perhaps raise them through the BIWG.
SUMMARY
Those who chose not to attend this Health Symposium missed out on a really interesting day that, as always, revealed much more than can ever be contained in the Powerpoint copies and gave much food for thought that continued to drive conversation across the week-end that followed. Such days are never just about the presenters or the Presentations themselves but about the discussions and contacts and this is especially the case for an event like this one, set within a larger event that is all about bringing the Bernese community together.
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Links to Other Specific Golden Jubilee Event/Activity Reports
Most of these will be updated more as reports and more photos become available and fresh links will appear as other event reports are available.
The International Health Symposium
Berner Bar Evening including Veterans Parade
(Friday) Championship Show (Jens & Lisbet Ramsing) & Limited Obedience Show – Show Judges’ Reports and Obedience report plus photos now available
British Fete Night (Friday) – Jubilee Toast, Auction, Torchlit Carting, Champions Parade
Golden Jubilee Championship Show (Helen Davenport Willis) & Junior Handling – some photos now available
50th Anniversary Championship Show (Steve Green) – some photos and show results now available
Swiss Breeds Event, Fun Dog Show, Good Citizens & Character Assessment (Saturday)
The International Judges Meeting
Golden Jubilee event photography page – incl link to full online galleries and details of how you can obtain copies of the official photographs
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FOR GENERAL BACKGROUND, THE INFORMATION RELATING TO THIS EVENT POSTED PRIOR TO THE EVENT IS LEFT IN PLACE BELOW
As part of our Golden Jubilee celebration event the BMDC of GB is proud to host the International Bernese Health Symposium for the second time. The last time in 2011 as part of our Ruby Jubilee celebrations, the event was a great success with around 90 attendees from the Bernese community in around 17 countries as well as a few interested parties from other breeds. Whilst obviously breeders and serious owners should have an interest in this event, any Bernese owner was invited to attend and just learn more, not only about the breed but some less breed specific issues as well.
This event is on the same site as the rest of our Golden Jubilee celebrations namely,
Forest Oak Farm, Lydney, Gloucestershire,GL15 4LN
Dr Benoit Hedan presenting at our 2011 seminar
Pat Long presenting at our 2011 seminar
Since then we have had events in Switzerland 2013, Finland 2015, France in 2017 and the Netherlands in 2018.
Views from the last (2018) Health seminar in The Netherlands. Thanks to the VBSH for the photos.
Just being around and part of these events is educational as there is just as much subject matter covered over tea & coffee / wine and beer away from, during and after, the official parts of the events. The presentations themselves should help to stimulate plenty of conversations.
Anyone with any interest in our breed or from another breed, interested any of the subject matter is welcome to attend this event. It is hoped that UK BMD owners of all kinds realise that, as well as the symposium itself, this is an extremely rare chance to mix with their overseas counterparts and exchange opinions and learn from each other.
The cost to attend the event, which includes a light lunch and refreshments, is £70 for non members and £40 for club members.
Please note that Membership can be applied and paid for on line and once applied for members rates can be utilised. So, you could join the club and immediately enjoy the special member’s rates for this event, show entries and other club activities as well as receive our club publications for over a year before you needed to renew your membership. With rates currently starting at £12 for senior citizen, or £14 for a UK single adult, this is terrific value and well worth considering if you would like to attend our Jubilee event.
We reserve the right to adjust the Timetable to deal with any emerging issues.
ABOUT THE MAIN PRESENTERS
Dr Joanna Ilska – Kennel Club Geneticist
From Kennel Club Announcement March 2021
Dr Joanna J. Ilska has joined The Kennel Club in the role of Genetics Research Manager. A quantitative geneticist, Joanna was born in Poland and has lived in the UK for 15 years. From very early childhood she was obsessed with animals, particularly dogs. The topic of genetics and breeding has always fascinated her, in what she calls “both its complexity and tremendous power”. This has led to her completing her first degree in BSc Applied Biosciences (Animal Science) in 2008, followed by MSc in Quantitative Genetics and Genome Analysis at the University of Edinburgh in 2009.
In 2014 she completed her PhD in genomic prediction of breeding values in broiler chickens at the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh. Following her PhD, she worked as a Research Fellow on a number of projects in a wide range of species. Her main expertise lies in prediction of breeding values for complex traits, using large scale genomic data such as whole genome sequences.
In her private life, Joanna continues to develop her passion for dogs in a range of disciplines. Although she has shown her Russian Black Terrier, Dinastii The Phenomenal (pet name Yarpen) in conformation a few times, she found her calling in dog training. She is particularly interested in competitive Obedience and Nosework. Joanna and Yarpen were a part of a team representing Scotland in the Inter-regional Obedience competition at Crufts 2013, gaining a second place in their class. Currently, Joanna lives in Edinburgh with another Russian Black Terrier, the Polish-imported Argus Electra Petarda (pet name Falka), with whom she has dabbled in IGP, Obedience and Nosework.
Dr Jacqueline Boyd – Nottingham Trent University
Jacqueline is passionate about making the world a better place for dogs and their people, by enhancing peoples’ understanding of what dogs really need and how us humans can help them, especially through improving their welfare via evidence-based management, nutrition, and training.
Jacqueline holds a first-class BSc (Hons) in Zoology (Parasitology), an MSc (with distinction) in Animal Nutrition, a PhD in Genetics, a postgraduate certificate in higher education and is a certified humane education specialist. She has worked in academic research exploring nematode genetics and lectured students in animal science, teaching on a wide range of subjects from nutrition to genetics and researching the kinematics of sports dogs (amongst other things). There has also been a stint in the commercial world as a canine and equine nutritionist, gaining further industry-related nutrition and advisory skills.
Jacqueline currently writes, coaches, and consults on all aspects of canine science and works part time as a Senior Lecturer in Animal Science at Nottingham Trent University, as well as tutoring canine-related short courses and guest lecturing. This means that Jacqueline has academic, educational and industry experience. In addition, Jacqueline writes regularly for the canine press.
Jacqueline has also lectured on aspects on animal health and welfare abroad through her voluntary work with a UK based animal welfare charity and is a regular guest speaker at canine events. Living with, working, and training her five cocker spaniels in a range of canine disciplines, from agility to gundog work to heelwork-to-music, means that Jacqueline also has a robust understanding of the practical realities of the dog world from a personal perspective, adding to the “real-word” applications of her experience and content delivery and writing, as well as keeping her very firmly grounded and smiling a lot!
Prof Steve Dunham – Associate Professor of Veterinary Virology – University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine
Steve Dunham graduated in 1991 from the University of Bristol in Veterinary Science (BVSc). After a short time in general practice, he returned to Bristol Veterinary School as an intern in Small Animal Medicine and obtained his RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Cardiology in 1993. Research training in molecular biology as a Wellcome Trust Clinical Scholar at the University of Glasgow resulted in a number of publications characterising companion animal cytokines. Postdoctoral research initially concentrated on the development of lentiviral vaccines in the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) model. A number of experimental approaches were used in attempts to improve the efficacy of DNA vaccines for FIV including the use of cytokine adjuvants, codon optimisation and prime-boost vaccination with DNA and killed virus vaccines. Steve was appointed as Lecturer in Veterinary Virology at Glasgow University in June 2003 and successfully completed his PGCert in Postgraduate Education. Steve joined the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science as Associate Professor in Veterinary Virology in September 2008. His research interests centre largely around viruses and their interaction with hosts, with a particular focus on avian influenza viruses.
Dr Benoit Hedan DVM, PhD, Dog Genetic Team, IGDR, University of Rennes
I am a veterinary ans a research engineer at CNRS
I am a veterinary specialized in dog genetics as a means to decipher genetic disease or multifactorial diseases as cancers for benefit of dog and human’s medicine . I obtained my diploma of veterinary medecine (DVM) from the veterinary school of Nantes, France, in 2003.
I completed a PhD in canine genetics at the University of Rennes, France. During my PhD, I focused on genetic bases of monogenic traits ( ex. merle coat color in Australian Shepherd dogs) as also polygenic disease (ex. histiocytic sarcoma in bernese mountain dogs).
To continue my interest in the genomics of canine cancer, I performed a Post Doctoral position in Pr M. Breen’s lab, Raleigh, NCSU,USA, in 2008-2010. Using array based CGH and FISH techniques, I looked for the cytogenetic anomalies/genome lesions associated histiocytic malignancies in high risk breeds.
I was hired by CNRS in 2012 in the dog genetics team where I am now working and supervising studies on predisposing and acquired alterations in different cancers in dogs (histiocytic sarcoma, lymphoma,…).
These approaches highlighted chromosomic regions involved in histiocytic sarcoma predisposition in Bernese Mountain Dogs. This allowed us, in collaboration with the private Antagene company, to develop a genetic tools to help breeders to manage selection against this devastating cancer.
Responsibilities
- Supervision of junior and graduate students, or visitors
- Setting up networks for sample collection with breeders, veterinarians, histology labs
Education
- Genetic lessons for Veterinary School of Nantes, France, « génétique UV72-physiologie pathologique fonctionnelle, cellulaire et moléculaire » 2010- 2015
UPDATES (POST BOOKING)
Attendance at this event had to be booked in advance, however, please note if you wish to attend this event but missed the booking deadline we have a little bit of leeway for late increase of the numbers. If you would still like to attend, apply as soon as possible to the organising committee on golden@bernese.co.uk We cannot make any guarantee but we may be able to oblige you.
In view of the current economic climate and financial worries many people are facing it is no surprise that our numbers are down on the attendances from 2011. However, there will still be around 60 people from around 17 countries present so we still have a significant event.
Please note that we have to stick to the timetable to fit everything in so co-operation is requested from attendees in being punctual so as not to disrupt other people. We also have to vacate the room promptly at the end of the symposium in order to allow our team, who will be poised, to move in and covert the room into its evening appearance.
History
The previous Health Meetings and accompanying International BMD get togethers have been held as follows:
1] 2000 Switzerland (KBS)
2] 2002 Switzerland (KBS)
3] 2003 Germany (SSV)
4] 2005 Austria (VSSO)
5] 2006 Italy (SIBB)
6] 2007 Switzerland (KBS)
7] 2009 Italy (CIABS)
8] 2011 UK (BMDC of GB)
9] 2013 Switzerland (KBS)
10] 2015 Finland (SS-FS)
11] 2017 France (AFBS)
12] 2018 The Netherlands (VBSH)
If you are looking at this as a UK BMD breeder/owner/fancier we hope you can be a part of this one as it will not be held here again for many years, certainly not in this decade.