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Canine coat length and type (long/short, curly/straight, furnishing)
Color & coat · Dog
Test that analyses the main variants determining dog coat length and type: FGF5 (long/short coat), KRT71 (curly/straight coat) and RSPO2 (furnishing, i.e. moustache and eyebrows). Complementary to, not a substitute for, clinical examination.
Incidence
Applicable breed: all dog breeds. Frequencies: limited data; allele distribution varies greatly between breeds.
Clinical signs
• FGF5: long coat (carriers of two alleles) versus short coat.
• KRT71: curly or wavy coat versus straight.
• RSPO2: presence of furnishings (moustache and eyebrows); its absence is associated with improper coat in breeds that require them.
• The combinations explain phenotypes such as long and straight coat, long and curly, or short with furnishings.
• KRT71: curly or wavy coat versus straight.
• RSPO2: presence of furnishings (moustache and eyebrows); its absence is associated with improper coat in breeds that require them.
• The combinations explain phenotypes such as long and straight coat, long and curly, or short with furnishings.
History
In 2006 Housley and Venta identified FGF5 as a determinant of coat length; in 2009 Cadieu and colleagues described, in a single study, the FGF5, KRT71 and RSPO2 variants associated with length, curl and furnishings. Subsequently Bauer and Salmela (2019), independently, described a second KRT71 variant.
Breeder management
• Interpret the three genes together, because the combination determines coat type.
• In breeds that require furnishings, avoid mating two dogs without furnishing if the standard demands it.
• In curly coat, remember that uncovered variants may exist.
• Coat length influences handling and grooming; it has no serious health implications.
• In breeds that require furnishings, avoid mating two dogs without furnishing if the standard demands it.
• In curly coat, remember that uncovered variants may exist.
• Coat length influences handling and grooming; it has no serious health implications.
Specialist notes
FGF5, KRT71 and RSPO2 explain most of the variation in coat length and texture in the dog, but unexplained phenotypes exist. The test is morphological in nature and does not replace assessment against the breed standard.
References
1. Housley 2006, The long and the short of it: FGF5 and canine hair length (PMID 16879338); OMIA:000439-9615.
2. Cadieu 2009, Coat variation in the domestic dog is governed by variants in three genes (FGF5, KRT71, RSPO2) (PMID 19713490); OMIA:000439-9615 / OMIA:000245-9615 / OMIA:001531-9615.
3. Bauer 2019, A second KRT71 allele in curly coated dogs (PMID 30444027); OMIA:000245-9615.
4. Salmela 2019, A novel KRT71 variant in curly-coated dogs (PMID 30456859); OMIA:000245-9615.
2. Cadieu 2009, Coat variation in the domestic dog is governed by variants in three genes (FGF5, KRT71, RSPO2) (PMID 19713490); OMIA:000439-9615 / OMIA:000245-9615 / OMIA:001531-9615.
3. Bauer 2019, A second KRT71 allele in curly coated dogs (PMID 30444027); OMIA:000245-9615.
4. Salmela 2019, A novel KRT71 variant in curly-coated dogs (PMID 30456859); OMIA:000245-9615.
Price: 32,29 € · Turnaround time: 7 days