QimmeqHealth—thyroid status of Greenland sled dogs (Canis lupus familiaris borealis)

• Main Authors: Gjaldbæk, Bolette Winnerskjold, Andersen-Ranberg, Emilie Ulrikka, Langebæk, Rikke, Krogh, Anne Kirstine Havnsøe
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: figshare 2021
• Subjects: Medicine; Molecular Biology; Physiology; FOS Biological sciences; 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; 39999 Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified; FOS Chemical sciences; Ecology; Sociology; FOS Sociology; 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified; Greenland; Canis lupus
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5728878.v1; https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/QimmeqHealth_thyroid_status_of_Greenland_sled_dogs_Canis_lupus_familiaris_borealis_/5728878/1

Abstract Background Greenland sled dogs (GSD) are a unique, genetically isolated population of dogs living under exceptional environmental conditions. Metabolism, and thereby thyroid hormones are affected by multiple factors. Among other activity, energy balance and environmental conditions are important. A breed-specific reference interval (RI) can be useful for diagnostics of potential thyroid-related pathologies. The aim of this study was to establish RIs of the thyroid hormones thyroxin (T4), free thyroxin (fT4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in GSD. In addition to evaluate the effect of sex, age, season, management, and body condition score (BCS) in GSD. Physical exams and cephalic venous blood sampling were performed in the period of 2018–2019 from 265 GSD managed either privately or by the Danish navy. Serum biochemical analyses, including C-reactive protein, were performed and RIs were determined for TSH, T4 and fT4 in only healthy dogs. The RIs were determined using American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines and the effect of varying factors were evaluated by linear regression and further tested by Mann–Whitney test. Results 144 GSD were included in the reference group resulting in RIs: T4: 6.44–48.65 nmol/L; fT4: 3.91–18.51 pmol/L; and TSH: 0.04–0.55 ng/mL. Female GSD had significantly higher concentrations of T4 (P = 0.039) and fT4 (P = 0.015) compared to males; a positive correlation between TSH and aging was found; T4 concentrations were significantly higher (P = 0.003) during summer; and TSH concentrations were lower in GSD managed by the navy (P