Can a CEA affected Dog be registered with ABCA?

[MyTDogs]

Hello,

 

Has the ABCA changed its policy on the registration of CEA Affecteds?

 

I searched the archives & found some info about CEA & read were an Affected dog was not registerable at this time (written in '05 I believe) with ABCA. I went to the ABCA site & could not find that mentioned. Just curious.

 

Does anybody here have or know of any CEA Affected dog? How severely were they affected?

 

Thanks!

[Mark Billadeau]

ABCA Board of Directors Meeting August 18, 2009 Conference Call Executive Summary

 

Health & Genetics Committee Eileen reported that the Health & Genetics Committee was recommending that the ban on registering dogs with CEA or PRA be dropped, because the DNA test for CEA has been found to be reliable and affords a means by which breeders can avoid producing offspring with CEA, and because PRA has been found to be virtually non-existent in our breed. In conjunction with this change, our breeding recommendations would be modified to provide guidance for breeders. On MOTION duly made and seconded, the Committee's recommendation was adopted, with the change to be effective as of August 2009, and not retroactive.

When discussing CEA an "affected" dog has two copies of the genetic mutation which causes CEA and this influences how CEA is passed from this dog onto its offspring. However, the severity of the disease in the affected dog can vary widely from "go normal" (no or little impact on vision) to severely affected vision.

 

Mark

 

[MyTDogs]

Thanks Mark!

[Pam Wolf]

On the subject of PRA, it should not be forgotten. I know of a few dogs which are diagnosed with PRA (by board certified optomologists). Two of these dogs I have personally seen and they followed 'classic' development of PRA.

 

What I am concerned about is now people have an opening for registering affected dogs which are unknown UNLESS genetically tested. Is the testing going to be mandatory unless the parents (or past generations) have been tested normal/non-carriers?

 

Are they going to continue with testing at major trials?

[Mark Billadeau]

Pam,

 

Have samples from these dogs been sent to Optigen (OptiGen Tests PRA-Affected Dogs at NO Cost)?

 

Since most dogs are registered prior to the diagnosis of eye diseases (registered as pups) does this rule change significantly increase the number of unknown affected dogs being registered?

 

Mark

[Pam Wolf]

Pam,

 

Have samples from these dogs been sent to Optigen (OptiGen Tests PRA-Affected Dogs at NO Cost)?

 

Since most dogs are registered prior to the diagnosis of eye diseases (registered as pups) does this rule change significantly increase the number of unknown affected dogs being registered?

 

Mark

 

A couple were prior to the testing. But examined and it was PRA according to optomologist. There may be one or two alive now to do the testing. Not sure people know about the PRA test.

 

I too wonder about the increase in unknowns.

[Mark Billadeau]

Pam,

 

The only avenue of adding known affected dogs would be via transfers from other registries that the ABCA accepts. All other affected dogs would have been registered with the ABCA as pups (already in the registry at the time of diagnosis). The ABCA is the largest registry of Border Collies in the USA; with the rate of affected Border Collies with CEA (ca. 2.5%) and PRA (insignificant to non-existent) the impact on the ABCA gene pool is negligible.

 

Mark

 

 

 

[Pam Wolf]

PRA fortunately is self limiting IF it occurs by about 3 years as has been seen in the affected dogs, so little would get back into the genepool.

 

CEA could be sneakier (bad choice of words, I know, how about insidiouus?)