Cleft Lip and Palate in Four Full-Sib Puppies from a Single Litter of Staffordshire Bull Terrier Dogs: An Anatomical and Genetic Study

Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is a well-known congenital defect in dogs, characterized by abnormal communication between the oral and nasal cavities. Its incidence rate is high and affects all dog breeds. The etiology of CLP is thought to be multifactorial, caused by both genetic and environmental factors. In this study, four puppies out of seven from a single litter of Staffordshire Bull Terrier dogs with craniofacial abnormalities were anatomically and genetically examined. Classical anatomical preparation, dyed-latex-injection of the arterial vessels, and cone-beam computed tomography were used. The puppies showed variations in their observable abnormalities: three of them had a complete cleft of the palate on both sides, while one puppy had a cleft on the right side only. Cytogenetic analysis showed a normal diploid chromosome number (2n = 78,XX or 78,XY) in the studied animals. Known genomic variants of CLP were examined in the ADAMTS20, DLX6, and MYH3 genes, but no mutations were identified. Further studies are needed to identify the breed-specific genetic variants associated with canine CLP.