PLATINUMBLUE STAFFORDS
" where qaulity counts"
All our dogs have been tested clear for HC & L2-HGA either via test or cleared through parentage with
CERTIFICATES
HC/ HEREDITARY CATARACTS
(also know as juvenile cataracts)
hereditary cataracts in staffordshire bull terriers has been reconised as an inherited condition since the late 1970's. Affected dogs develope cataracts in both eyes at an early age.The condition is not congenital,so the lenses are normal at birth but cataracts appear at a few weeks to months in age,progressing total cataract(and resulting blindness) by 2 to 3 years of age.
The mutation,or change to the structure of the gene,probably occured spontaneously in a single dog but once in the population has been inherited from generation to generation like any othergene.The disorder shows an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance:
two copies of the defective gene(one inherited from each parent) have to be present for adog to be affected by the disease.
Individuals with one copy of the defective gene and one copy of the normal gene called carriers-show no symptoms but can pass the defective gene onto their offspring.when two apparently healthy carriers are crossed,25%(on average)of the offspring will be affectedby the disease,25%will be clear and the remaining 50%will themselves be carriers.
The mutationresponsible for the disease has recently been identified at the animal health trust.using the information from this research,we have developed a DNA test for the disease.this test not only diagnoses dogs affected with the diseases but can alsodetect those dogs which are carriers,displaying no symptoms of the disease but able to produce affected pups.
under most circumstances,there will be a much greater numberof carriers then affected animals in a population.Its is important to eliminate such carriers
from a breeding population since they represent a hidden reservoir of the diseasethat can produce affected dogs at anytime.
the test is available now and information on submitting samples is given below.
breeders can be sent results identifyingtheir dog as belonging to one of three catorgories.
L2-HGA
L2-HGA(L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria)in staffordshire bull terries is a neurometabolic disorder characterised by elevated levels of L-2- hydroxyglutaric acid in urine,plasma & cerebrospinal fluid.
L-2-HGA
affects the central nervous system,with clinical signs usually apparent between 6 months & one year (although they can appear later).symptoms include epileptic seizures,"wobbly" gait,tremors,muscle stiffness as a result of exercise or excitement & alterered behaviour.
The mutation,or change to the structure of the gene,probably occurred spontaneously in a single dog but once in the population has been inherited from generation to generation like any other gene. the disorder shows an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance:two copies of the defective gene(one inherited from each parent) have to be present for a dog to be affected by the disease.
Individuals with one copy of the defective gene & one copy of the normal gene called carriers-show no symptoms but can pass the defective gene into their offspring. when two apparently healthy carriers are grossed,25%(on average) of the offspring will be affected by the disease,25% will be clear & the
remaining 50% will themselves be carriers.
The mutation responsible for the disease has recectly been identified at the animal health trust.using the information from ths research ,we have developed a DNA test for the disease.this test not only diagnoses dogs affected with this disease but can also detect those dogs which are carriers,displaying no symptoms of the disease but able to produce affected pups.
carriers could not be detected by the test previously available which involved either a blood or urine test detecting elevated levels of L-2-
hydroxyglutarate or magnetic resonance imaging.under most circumstances,there will be a much greater number of carriers then affected animals in a population.it is important to eliminate such carriers from a breeding
population since they represent a hidden reervoir of the disease that can produce affected dogs at anytime.
the is available now & information on submitting
samples is given below.
breeders will be sent results identifying their dog as belonging to one of three categories:
CLEAR:The dog has 2 copies of the normal gene & will neither develope L-2- HGA,nor pass a copy of the L2-HGA gene to any of its offspring
CARRIER:The dog has one copy of the normal gene & one copy of the mutant gene that causes L2-HGA .it will not develope L2-HGA but will pass on the L2-HGA gene to 50%(on average)of its offspring.
AFFECTED:The dog has two copies of the L2-HGA mutation & is affected with L2-HGA.it will developed L2-HGA at some stage during its lifetime,assuming it lives to an appropriate age.
carriers can still be bred to clear dogs.on average,50%of such a litter will be clear & 50% carriers;pups which will be used for breeding can themselves be DNA tested to determined wheather they are clear or carrier.
please click on link below to order your HC & L2-HGA test kit.
www.animalnetwork.com.au