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NAGOYA, Japan

Menicon announces that an article entitled, “Dogs and humans share a common susceptibility gene SRBD1 for glaucoma risk”, which presents the results of a study conducted by Menicon, Azabu University, and Yokohama City University (hereinafter designated as “this study”), was published in the scientific journal PLoS ONE.

Menicon conducted a joint study with Azabu University and Yokohama City University and found that Shiba Inu dogs and humans share a susceptibility gene for glaucoma.
To date, several reports on normal tension glaucoma have been published, thus prompting Menicon to conduct a joint study with Yokohama City University. Menicon paid attention to the fact that the incidence of glaucoma in Shiba Inu dogs was high. Through the cooperation of Azabu University, which stores blood samples of dogs with various diseases, susceptibility genes for glaucoma of dogs were investigated. The results of the study showed that SRBD1, which was also identified in humans, was strongly associated with glaucoma.

This study revealed that the risk of glaucoma was three-fold higher in Shiba Inu dogs and five-fold higher in Shih Tzu dogs with a mutated SRBD1 gene than in Shiba Inu and Shih Tzu dogs with the normal, unmutated gene.

It is significantly rare for humans and dogs to share a susceptibility gene for a disease. The findings of this study thus provide a method for predicting the risk for developing glaucoma. Meni-One Co., Ltd., a subsidiary company of Menicon, engaged in animal ophthalmology medical care, will strive to disseminate the major findings of this study to reduce the risk of glaucoma in future generations of Shiba Inu dogs. As the Shiba Inu is a globally recognized Japanese domestic breed, the company is highly dedicated to the promotion of healthy Shiba Inu dogs worldwide through genetic testing.

Lastly, further studies involving dogs may prove useful in the research of glaucoma in humans. Menicon is hopeful that this research will generate significant contributions to society.

• PLOS ONE: http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0074372
• Meni-One: http://meni-one.com/en
• Azabu University: http://www.azabu-u.ac.jp/
• Yokohama City University: http://www.yokohama-cu.ac.jp/

About Menicon

Headquartered in Nagoya, Japan, and represented in over 80 countries, Menicon Co., Ltd. is the only contact lens company in the world dedicated to every aspect of the field from material development and lens design to manufacturing of lenses and lens care solutions. Menicon offers an expanding portfolio of innovative lenses, packaging and related products that maximize user comfort and convenience. The company is also the world’s largest producer of gas-permeable contact lenses.

For more information, contact Yoko Kido (presscontact@menicon-net.co.jp) and visit menicon.com