LATEST FACTS FROM ILAC

When examining for PRA there also will be found a lot of other eye diseases and faults. There are different forms of CATARACTS. In its smaller forms cataracts make a very little affect on the dogs sight. A TOTAL cataract also means total blindness and comes often as a result of PRA. This can often be seen when a dog is tested at 7-8 years of age. You can not see through the lens into the retina. An ERG test is the only way to see if there is any PRA.

All cases of confirmed PRA approved for publishing can be found here.

It is impossible to point out a specific dog as the only cause to this disease. In the pedigrees of these dogs one can find dogs from both England and USA as carriers of the disease. The foundation stock in USA consists of 8 dogs and in UK of 5 dogs. These early imports have been inbred very hard from the beginning and in some lines this hard inbreeding has continued for 10 - 12 generations.

ILAC was started in order to find out the occurrence of PRA in Lhasa Apso around the world. To increase the knowledge of this disease in the breed it is necessary to test as many Lhasa Apsos as possible and to start with the old ones already used in the breeding. To be sure and safe it is also necessary to test the parents of every planned litter. The ophtalmologic veterinarians are talking of an onset age from 2 years up to 8 years and nobody can say a dog is clear at the age of five years. It is impossible to say if a dog is a carrier or a non-carrier. The only known carriers are the parents of a PRA dog and its puppies and the PRA dog itself. What some people call a non carrier from a “free" line can later on be a known carrier as well as developing PRA itself.

Samples of genes from affected Lhasa Apsos have been compared to genes from Irish Setters. Unfortunately the Lhasa type of PRA is not the same as the Setter type. Lhasa Apso breeders can be happy if they can use a proper DNA test before the year 2015.

In a disabling defect as PRA it is naturally every single breeders duty against the breed, puppy buyers and every other breeders to get the cases diagnosed and published. It is no shame to meet with a defect in the breeding, it can happen to anyone.

 

RESEARCH SAMPLES NEEDED FOR PRA and CATARACTS 

FREE TESTING FOR PRA-AFFECTED PUREBRED DOGS

Who qualifies? Any purebred dog that has been examined by a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist (ACVO, ECVO) and that has been diagnosed with PRA is eligible for review for possible inclusion in the Free Testing program. Status of "PRA suspicious" or "atypical PRA" does not qualify.

Here's how it works:

1. You mail, email, or fax a copy of the eye exam report (CERF report or other) plus a copy of a 4-5 generation pedigree for PRE-APPROVAL before sending a blood sample. If possible, provide an email address for a reply.

2. Wait for a response from OptiGen to learn if your dog has a diagnosis that qualifies for free testing.

3. Once you’ve received the PRE-APPROVAL notification from OptiGen, send a blood sample - at least 3 ml of unclotted blood - according to standard instructions (Ship Sample). Cheek swab samples are not suitable for most research purposes; a blood sample is greatly preferred. Print out and complete all details of the standard Request Test form (ignore any payment questions). Send this order form with the notation “Approved for Research” clearly printed on the first page.  Including a copy of email correspondence noting the prior approval by OptiGen is helpful.

What happens next?

OptiGen will test the sample from your PRA affected dog for the known and/or likely causes of the disease in that breed.  For those samples that represent breeds where no PRA mutations have yet been identified, personal communications on test results will be issued from OptiGen as the research is conducted.  OptiGen frequently relies on the expertise of two veterinary ophthalmologists, Dr. Gustavo Aguirre at the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Gregory Acland at Cornell University. With the assistance of their consultations and academic research efforts, OptiGen strives to help advance the understanding of inherited eye diseases in dogs.

 

INHERITED CATARACTS

Modeled on our PRA research program, these projects are aimed at identifying the genes and mutations responsible for specific cataracts found in certain breeds.  There are many types of cataracts but we are studying only 2 types at this time: 

·        Bilateral, Posterior Subcapsular type that develops between 1.5 yrs and 3 yrs of age in the following breeds:          Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and English          Springer Spaniels 

·        Bilateral Posterior Cortical type that develops between 1 yr. and 3 yrs of age in the Siberian Husky,          Samoyed and the Alaskan Malamute

The 3 steps for submitting cataract samples for research are the same as those for submitting PRA research samples (as described above).

 

SPECIAL NOTE TO VETERINARY OPHTHALMOLOGISTS

OptiGen greatly values any research input from the diplomats of American and European Colleges of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. We would like to encourage the submission of any samples that you deem affected with the eye diseases described above as well as any other samples that might represent inherited diseases of research interest.  Examples of the latter might include: choroidal hypoplasia in breeds not previously identified as having Collie Eye Anomaly, optic nerve colobomas, microphthalmia, multi-focal retinopathy in breeds not yet recognized as having CMR mutations, etc. Although we appreciate being contacted prior to submission, prior approval is not required for samples being sent directly from a veterinary ophthalmologist. 

Our staff will be happy to help you with any questions on how to submit these research submissions.  

OptiGen frequently relies on the expertise of two veterinary ophthalmologists, Dr. Gustavo Aguirre at the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Gregory Acland at Cornell University. With the assistance of their consultations and academic research efforts, OptiGen strives to help advance the understanding of inherited eye diseases in dogs.

Source: http://www.optigen.com/opt9_research.html

 

 

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