Health Testing

for Australian Cattle Dogs, South Africa

 

DEAFNESS:

BRAINSTEM AUDITORY EVOKED RESPONSE (BAER) TEST

Puppies can be tested from seven weeks of age. Dogs are sedated for this test.

 

• The Hearing Aide, June de Wet or Greg Smith, www.thehearingaide.co.za

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY
(PRA-prcd) – PRCD MUTATION TEST FOR PRA

• Inqaba Biotechnical Industries (Pty) Ltd Cell: 082 859 2229Tel: 012 343 5829 Fax: 012 343 0287  www.inqababiotec.co.za

• Optigen: www.optigen.com

 

PRIMARY LENS LUXATION (PLL)

A disturbing percentage of ACD's DNA tested for this painful genetic disorder are coming up as carriers or affected. We advise that you test for PLL before breeding.

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• Inqaba Biotechnical Industries (Pty) Ltd Cell: 082 859 2229Tel: 012 343 5829 Fax: 012 343 0287 www.inqababiotec.co.za

 

HIP AND ELBOW DYSPLASIA

• For Hip and elbow dysplasia your cattle dog can be x-rayed according to KUSA from 12 months of age. It is advised for a bitch that you do not x-ray a month either side of her season.

• You arrange with your Vet to have the x-rays sent to one of the official KUSA hip scorers.

• If your adult dog has not had a BAER test we recommend that you try and have the x-rays and if not tested as a pup have the BAER test done at the same time so the dog only has to be sedated once.
  I like to delay these xrays, if possible, until the dog is over 2 1/2 years of age so that the first spinal xray for DISH can be done at the same time.

 

SAVA – CERF EYE TEST

• Required annually for a breeding dog to check for cataracts and other eye diseases.

• Enquire at your local Veterinary Practise where the nearest specialist is or contact the Johannesburg Animal Eye clinic as they travel around the country.www.animaleyehospital.co.za

 

DM - degenerative myeolopathy 

A late onset degenerative neurological disease of the spinal cord that is prevalent in many canine breeds. As the spinal cord degenerates, the canine will display clinical symptoms such as ataxia in the pelvic limbs.  Although there is no treatment for this progressive degenerative disease, hydrotherapy has been shown to be very useful in maintaining the canine’s mobility and increasing life expectancy.

The genetic test detects the single nucleotide mutation c.118G>A, in the SOD1 gene, that encodes the superoxide dismutase 1 protein. A mutation in the SOD1 gene causes a malfunction in the protein, which results in an accumulation of toxic aggregates. This is an autosomal recessive genetically inherited disease that requires two mutant copies of the SOD1 gene to cause DM.

Awano T, Johnson GS, Wade CM, et al. Genome-wide association analysis reveals a SOD1 mutation in canine degenerative myelopathy that resembles amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2009; 106(8):2794-2799. doi:10.1073/pnas.0812297106.

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NCL  - Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses

NCL, is caused by a missing enzyme necessary for normal metabolism. As a result, there is an abnormal accumulation of waste compounds primarily in the cells of the nervous system, leading to a range of nervous system disorders. Affected dogs present with progressive loss of physical and mental nervous system function. Symptoms include a lack of muscle coordination, abnormal gait, and difficulty in balancing and jumping. An affected dog may also display aimless wandering behavior with episodes of confusion, depression, aggressive behavior, seizures, and frequent barking. These symptoms can become more frequent and severe over time. As the disease progresses, the dog may lose sensory skills and vision. Signs of dementia may include loss of learned behavior, irritability and aggression. There is currently no treatment for the disease.

Because THERE IS NO TREATMENT FOR THE DISEASE, dogs should be screened for this mutation prior to breeding so that it is not passed on to the puppies.

 

Article about NCL:

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rcd4- PRA - late onset PRA - Rod Cone Dysplasia Type 4 

The disease caused by the C2orf71 mutation does not typically result in vision loss until dogs are in their senior years--beyond 7 years of age. The initial data cited in the AHT publication indicate that the average age of onset of PRA symptoms in dogs that inherit two copies of the C2orf71 mutation is 10 years of age however variation in age of onset is common in many forms of PRA and some dogs may not show symptoms of rcd4-PRA until they are 12 or older.

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DISH (diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis)

DISH is a hereditary disease of the spine in Australian Cattle Dogs where the spinal ligaments calcify and symptons are often misdiagnosed as Spondylosis. Evidence of DISH can be seen from around 2 1/2 and if not evident by 7 the dog is most likely clear.

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A combinded test for PRA, PLL, DM, NCL and rcd4-PRA is available from Labogen in Germany, this is currently the only lab offering NCL testing.
 

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All KUSA registered dogs

have an

Annex to the Certificate of Registration

that will list all Health test results

lodged with KUSA

 

 

 

 

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Before you buy an Australian Cattle Dog puppy you need to know:

That the parents:

Need to be tested for PRA or have an obligate type because of their parents status. PRA is late on set in ACD’s but might be picked up in eye tests as early as 3 years.

• Type A is clear of PRA 

• Type B is unaffected but is a carrier of PRA 

• Type C will be affected

Knowing the parents PRA status will allow you to work out the puppy's PPA status

parent 1    parent 2   Puppies
      A            A            A
      A            B         A or B
      A            C            B
      B            B        A, B or C
      B            C          B or C
      C            C             C

To achieve NO puppies that will be affect by PRA i.e. type C one of the parents must be a Type A – though no Type C puppies may arise from a B to B mating there is a high risk there will and do you want to breed dogs that go blind in middle age.

DNA testing for PRA prcd is available from Inqaba biotec Tel: 012 343 5829 or 018 290 6926

PLL, Primary Lens Luxation a genetically inherited eye disease also occurs in ACD's - the DNA test for this is also available from Inqaba biotec.Parents also need to have a current SAVA Eye Examination Certificate as cataracts have been recorded for some South African dogs.

Parents to be BAER test and both have normal hearing. Ask if records exist for grandparents, siblings, off-spring – the more history of normal hearing you have the less likely you are to find that your pup is a carrier. Deafness unfortunately is present in many of the South African bloodlines.

Both parents need to be scored for Hip and Elbow dysplasia. Ask if records exist for grandparents, siblings, off-spring – the more history of good hips and elbows you have the more likely that the puppy with have good hips and elbows.

Hip dysplasia is unfortunately present in some of the bloodlines in South Africa. Ideally you are looking for dogs with hip scores of 0 or A1/A2/B1 - if one of the parents has a hip score of 1 or B2/C1/C2 the other parent should ideally have an A grading.  Imported dogs, which may have been tested in country of origin, may have been scored by a different system, if so find out how that system works – in all cases the lower the number or letter the better.

Elbows are scored on a 5 point system and the lower the score the better.

The parents must have correct general conformation, good balance (stand square) and movement (move with a free supple tireless trot).

Ideally parents should have been screened and be free of DISH & Spondylosis.

Parents must have the correct scissor bite (lower incisors closing just behind but touching upper incisors) – again here ask about grand parents, siblings and off spring. Though the standard does not mention dentition it is desirable that both parents have full dentition – missing teeth are a sign of a weak jaw, which is problematic for a breed that needs to bite and may be kicked in the teeth.

Try and meet both parents and check that you are happy with their temperament. Temperament is partly genetic and partly how the dog has been raised.

If you cannot get to see the parents ask for copies of paper work, photographs from front, back and side of the parents in a show stand, video footage of the parents moving in a show triangle and ask for answers on all the above.

 

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The Cattle Dog Puppy should ideally be:

• PRA, PLL, DM, NCL, rcd4: clear or carrier, either tested or obligative based on parents’ tests.

• BAER test normal. A unilaterally deaf dog will lead a normal life but is not suitable for breeding with and not desirable for a working dog. A unilaterally deaf dog would suit a pet home where the dog will be sterilised. Check if the whole litter tested normal.

• The puppy should be well balanced, it should stand square and move with a trot – watch the puppies moving around naturally (again if you cannot get to see the puppy in person ask for a video clip of this).

• Check the puppy’s temperament, it should be confident, outgoing and interested in people. Find out if the litter was temperament tested and what the results were.

• At 7-8 weeks the puppy’s conformation is close to what it will be as an adult. Check angulation, proportions and general appearance – is the puppy structurally sound.

• Check the teeth, the bite should be a correct scissor bite, all 28 baby teeth should be present and correctly spaced.

• If you are wanting the puppy for breeding and showing there should be no black body patches on any of the blue puppies in the litter and preferably no red patches on any of the red puppies (body patches are allowed in reds but are not desirable).

• Finally look at the decorative factors of ear size and shape, coat colour and markings. If you are wanting the puppy for breeding and showing know what the undesirable traits are and what type you prefer.