Professional Publications

These are published results of research sponsored by SCWTCA and/or the Endowment.

Wheaten Health Issues

• Tolbert MK, Darrow J, Grubb L, Fitzgerald S, Bergee R, Price J, Mariano M, Hong M, Sung CH, Hill T, Steiner JM, Suchodolski JS. Pre-clinical enteropathy in healthy soft-coated wheaten terriers. J Vet Intern Med. 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e17293. doi: 10.1111/jvim.17293. Erratum in: J Vet Intern Med. 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e70034. doi: 10.1111/jvim.70034. PMID: 39968924; PMCID: PMC11836878.
• Haviland R.L., Toaff-Rosenstein, R.L., Reeves, M.P., Littman, M.P. Clinical features of hypoadrenocorticism in soft-coated wheaten terrier dogs: 82 cases (1979–2013)Can Vet J. 2016 Apr;57(4):387–394. PMCID: PMC4790230 PMID: 27041756
• Littman M.P., Wiley C.A., Raducha M.G. et al. Glomerulopathy and mutations in NPHS1 and KIRREL2 in Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier dogs. Mamm Genome 24, 119–126 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-012-9445-8
• Vaden SL, Littman MP, Cianciolo RE. Familial Renal Disease in Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers. J Vet Emerg Crit Care, 2012, accepted
• Vaden S, Giger U, Spaulding K, Sellon R, Littman M, Harris T, Afrouzian M, Jennette J, Williams D, VanCamp S. Inheritance of Protein-Losing Enteropathy and Nephropathy of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. J Vet Intern Med, 2002, 16:352
• Vaden SL, Sullivan P, Alcorta D, Afrouzian M, Hogan S, Preston G, Jennette C, Falk R. Cytokine expression in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers with familial glomerulonephritis and enteropathy. J Am Soc Nephrol, 2001, 12:695A (The citation “Cytokine expression in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers with familial glomerulonephritis and enteropathy. J Am Soc Nephrol, 2001, 12:695A” refers to an abstract presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s annual meeting. This specific study by the North Carolina State University (NCSU) colony researchers identified significant immunodysregulation in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers (SCWT) affected by protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) and protein-losing nephropathy (PLN). Key Findings of the Study: The research evaluated cytokine profiles to determine if a Th1 or Th2 cellular immune response was driving the inflammatory processes in these dogs. Mixed Th1/Th2 Response: The study identified abnormal Th1 and Th2 cellular immune responses in affected dogs.Target Tissues: Cytokine expression was notably altered in jejunal (intestine) and renal cortical (kidney) biopsies, as well as in peripheral blood leukocytes. Immunodysregulation: These findings suggested that beyond the genetic podocytopathy (mutations in NPHS1 and KIRREL2), SCWTs have a separate or compounding abnormality manifesting as immune system dysregulation. Clinical Correlation: This dysregulation likely predisposes the breed to food hypersensitivities and inflammatory triggers that exacerbate the protein loss in both the gut and the kidneys. Context within Breed Disease: While the glomerulonephritis (specifically focal segmental glomerulosclerosis or FSGS) is primarily driven by a podocytopathy, the cytokine expression research highlights why inflammation and allergies play such a critical role in the clinical progression of the disease in this breed. This “multi-hit” pathogenesis theory suggests that genetic weakness in the kidney’s filtration barrier is further compromised by circulating inflammatory markers or immune complexes resulting from the abnormal cytokine environment.)
• Afrouzian M, Vaden SL, Harris T, Hogan S, Falk RJ, Jennette JC. Immune complex mediated proliferative and sclerosing glomerulonephritis in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers (SCWT): Is this an animal model of IgA nephropathy or IgM mesangial nephropathy? J Am Soc Nephrol 2001, 12:670A
• Vaden SL, Jensen WA, Longhofer S, Simpson D. Longitudinal study of microalbuminuria in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. J Vet Intern Med, 2001, 15:300
• Vaden SL. PLE (and PLN) in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. Proceedings 19th Annual Vet Med Forum, 2001
• Vaden SL. Adverse food reactions in animals: An internist’s perspective. Symposium on Adverse Food Reactions, Kansas City, June 13, 2000
• Vaden SL, Hammerberg B, Davenport DJ, Orton SM, Trogdon MM, Melgarejo LT, VanCamp SD, Williams DA. Food hypersensitivity reactions in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers with Protein-Losing Enteropathy or Protein-Losing Nephropathy or both: gastroscopic food sensitivity testing, dietary provocation, and fecal immunoglobulin. E. J Vet Intern Med, 2000; 14:60-67
• Littman MP, Dambach DM, Vaden SL, Giger U. Familial Protein-Losing Enteropathy and/or Protein-Losing Nephropathy in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers: 222 cases (1983-1997). J Vet Intern Med, 2000; 14:68-80
• Vaden SL, Sellon RK, Melgarejo LT, Williams DA, Trogdon MM, VanCamp SD, Argenzio R. Evaluation of intestinal permeability and gluten sensitivity in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers with familial Protein-Losing Enteropathy, Protein-Losing Nephropathy, or both. Amer J Vet Res, 2000, 61:518-524
• Vaden SL, Miller RT, Hammerberg B, Stone EA. Mast cells are present in the kidneys of dogs with renal disease. J Vet Intern Med, 2000; 14:352
• Vaden SL, Hammerberg B, Orton SM, Stone EA. Mast cell degranulation responses in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers with Protein-Losing Enteropathy and/or Nephropathy. J Vet Intern Med, 2000; 14:348
• Vaden S, Hammerberg B, Sellon R, Davenport D. Do food allergies cause PLE/PLN in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers? Proceedings 1999 National Parent Club Canine Health Conference, St. Louis, October, 1999
• Vaden SL, Davenport DJ, Hammerberg B, Trogdon MM. Gastroscopic food sensitivity testing and oral challenge in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers with Protein-Losing Enteropathy and/or Nephropathy. J Vet Intern Med, 1998; 12:205
• Vaden SL, Sellon RK, Spaulding K, Melgarejo LT, Williams DA, Trogdon MM, Argenzio R. Gluten administration provokes mucosal mononuclear cell infiltration but does not increase intestinal permeability in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers (SCWT). J Vet Intern Med, 1998; 12:202
• Orton S. Hammerberg B, Vaden S. IgE independent allergen binding and histamine release in canine mast cells. American Societies for Experimental Biology, Immunology Section, San Francisco, April 1998
• Vaden SL. Protein-Losing Enteropathy and Protein-Losing Nephropathy of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. Proceedings 16th Annual Vet Med Forum, 1998
• Vaden SL. PLE/PLN in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. Proceedings 1997 National Parent Club Canine Health Conference, published in Canine Practice 1998; 23:12-13
• Vaden SL, Sellon RK, Spaulding KA, Dambach DM, Melgarejo LT, Williams DA, Trogdon MT, VanCamp SD, Littman MP. Early manifestations of Protein-Losing Enteropathy and Nephropathy in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. AKC Molecular Genetics and Canine Genetic Health Conference, St. Louis, MO, 1997

Testing Procedures

• Allenspach K, Lomas B, Wieland B, Harris T, Pressler B, Mancho C, Lees GE, Vaden SL. Evaluation of perinuclear ani-neutrophil cytoplasmic auto-antibodies as an early marker of Protein-Losing Enteropathy and Nephropathy in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. Am J Vet Res, 2008; 69:1301-1304
• Allenspach K, Vaden S, Harris T, Gröne A, Doherr M, Griot-Wenk M, Bischoff SC, Gaschen F. Evaluation of Colonoscopic Allergen Provocation (COLAP) in Dogs with Proven Food Hypersensitivity Reactions. J Sm Anim Pract, 2006, 47:21-26
• Kircher P, Spaulding K, Vaden S, Lang J, Doherr M, Gaschen L. Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation of gastrointestinal hemodynamics in food hypersensitivities: a canine model. J Vet Intern Med, 2004; 18:605-11
• Vaden SL. What is the meaning of microalbuminuria? Adv Small Animal Med Surg In press
• Kircher PR, Spaulding K, Vaden S, Lang J, Doherr M, Gaschen L. Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation of gastrointestinal blood flow in food hypersensitivities: a canine model. International Veterinary Radiology Association 2003 Tri-Annual Meeting, Midrand, South Africa
• Steiner JM , Ruaux CG, Milller M, Wright Z, Teague SR, Vaden S, Williams DA. Intra-individual variability of fecal α1-proteinase inhibitor concentration in clinically healthy dogs. J Vet Intern Med, 2003, 17:445
• Vaden SL. Microalbuminuria: what is it and how do I interpret it? Proceedings 21st Annual Vet Med Forum, 2003
• Pressler B, Vaden SL, Jensen W, Simpson D. Detection of canine microalbuminuria using semi-quantitative test strips designed for use in human urine. Vet Clin Path, 2002; 31:56-60
• Vaden SL, Vidaurri A, Levine JF, Harris T, Steiner JM, Williams DA. Fecal α1-proteinase inhibitor activity in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. J Vet Intern Med, 2002, 16:382
• Vaden SL, Pressler BM, Lappin MR, Simpson DF, Jensen WA. Urinary tract inflammation has a variable effect on urine albumin concentrations. J Vet Intern Med, 2002, 16:378
• Pressler BM, Vaden SL, Jensen WA, Simpson D. Accuracy of human semi-quantitative microalbuminuria test strips for the detection of canine microalbuminuria. J Vet Intern Med, 2001, 15:316
• Pressler BM, Vaden SL, Jensen WA, Simpson D. Prevalence of microalbuminuria in dogs evaluated at a referral veterinary hospital. J Vet Intern Med, 2001, 15:300

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