Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures, NEWS
ATF2 is a DNA-binding protein known to mediate the cellular response to DNA damage. It has been linked to a variety of diseases including NEWS; notably, mice deficient in ATF2 have neurologic deficits similar to NEWS puppies.
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Signs and symptoms
Affected puppies are often underweight from birth and require intensive nursing care. They can develop cerebellar signs (uncoordinated, difficulty with movement) and seizures.
Signs develop between 4-6 weeks of age. -
Diagnosis
Unless a genetic basis is suspected due to the age, breed, or history of the dog, diagnostics must be performed to rule out infectious, inflammatory, or neoplastic causes.
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Treatment
Currently there is no treatment for NEWS. Due to the severity of their neurologic signs, NEWS puppies do not survive to adulthood.
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What to do if your dog is at risk
Actions
- You may need to assist your affected puppy with nursing and other supportive care.
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Genetic Information
This mutation was first described in Poodles.
This disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning that affected dogs must have two copies of the mutation to show clinical signs.
Gene names:
ATF2 ‐ chr
Inheritance type:
recessive
Citations:
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Breeds affected
This health condition affects the following breeds
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