The MARS PETCARE BIOBANK protocol: establishing a longitudinal study of health and disease in dogs and cats
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Published:2023-08-17
Issue:1
Volume:19
Page:
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ISSN:1746-6148
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Container-title:BMC Veterinary Research
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language:en
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Short-container-title:BMC Vet Res
Author:
Alexander Janet E.ORCID, Filler Serina, Bergman Philip J., Bowring Claire E., Carvell-Miller Laura, Fulcher Brenda, Haydock Richard, Lightfoot Teresa, Logan Darren W., McKee Talon S., Mills Tracy, Morrison JoAnn, Watson Phillip, Woodruff Colby, Atkinson Graham, Biourge Vincent, Bobov Konstantin, Carson Aletha, Colyer Alison, Cooper Kelly, De Meyer Geert, Foran Rebecca Chodroff, Gates Tamara, Grace Kristi, Goubert Lieve, Kresnye Cassie, Kurian Mary, Leutenegger Christian, Lovvorn Eric, Catalan Silvia Miret, O’Donnell Kay, Ondoy Omar, Reynolds Rhiannon, Smith Katy, Smith Stacy,
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The veterinary care of cats and dogs is increasingly embracing innovations first applied to human health, including an increased emphasis on preventative care and precision medicine. Large scale human population biobanks have advanced research in these areas; however, few have been established in veterinary medicine. The MARS PETCARE BIOBANK™ (MPB) is a prospective study that aims to build a longitudinal bank of biological samples, with paired medical and lifestyle data, from 20,000 initially healthy cats and dogs (10,000 / species), recruited through veterinary hospitals over a ten-year period. Here, we describe the MPB protocol and discuss its potential as a platform to increase understanding of why and how diseases develop and how to advance personalised veterinary healthcare.
Methods
At regular intervals, extensive diet, health and lifestyle information, electronic medical records, clinicopathology and activity data are collected, genotypes, whole genome sequences and faecal metagenomes analysed, and blood, plasma, serum, and faecal samples stored for future research.
Discussion
Proposed areas for research include the early detection and progression of age-related disease, risk factors for common conditions, the influence of the microbiome on health and disease and, through genome wide association studies, the identification of candidate loci for disease associated genetic variants. Genomic data will be open access and research proposals for access to data and samples will be considered. Over the coming years, the MPB will provide the longitudinal data and systematically collected biological samples required to generate important insights into companion animal health, identifying biomarkers of disease, supporting earlier identification of risk, and enabling individually tailored interventions to manage disease.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
General Veterinary,General Medicine
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