Progressive Retinal Atrophy in Cotons
|
The Coton de Tulear is still remarkably free of genetic disease. There are perhaps 45-55 known genetic diseases in Cotons (compared to hundreds in other more common breeds). The known incidence of any particular genetic problem is low, in the 1-5% range. Often in other breeds, the incidence of one or more diseases can be greater than 50% in the population and presents a real problem to long term breed vitality. The known incidence of any particular eye problem in Cotons is still quite low. The known data for PRA in Cotons presented here shows that the incidence of PRA is extremely low. Although it is good to be aware of possible health problems, this health information is not meant to convey that there is a particular health problem in the breed. ACC breeders maintain a lifelong educational commitment to learning as much about the breed as possible. It's always a good idea to ask the breeders you approach for puppies if they health test their dogs and what they can tell you about any potential problems in their lines. Progressive Retinal Atrophy or PRA is one of the genetic diseases in dogs. It appears in a small percentage of Cotons as do a number of other genetic diseases. PRA is particularly insidious because it is usually a late onset disease -- that is, it is detectable after four years of age. It leads invariably to irreversible blindness. Because breeding Cotons often produce a number of litters before they are four years old, it is imperative to find a genetic DNA marker for this condition which will allow detection of the PRA producing genes at an early age from a simple blood test. Research work began into identifying a genetic marker a number of years ago at a laboratory in Canada. The impetus for this work came from the Canadian breeder, Hope Richardson, who organized a drive to collect blood samples from PRA affected and normal dogs and to solicit donations from the Coton Community for this work. The hope was that the DNA marker would be in a place on the strand close to that for other breeds and which could be identified without an extraordinary amount of work. After a year of research, the lab determined that marker could not be easily identified. Continuation of the research required hiring a full time researcher and additional donations from the Coton Community. An effort was made to raise the approximately $15,000 to pay for a year of research time, but was not successful, and the research was put on hold. Meanwhile, the German Coton Community has taken the initiative to pursue this work and the research is active in Germany, giving hope that a DNA marker will be found in a timely fashion and that we will eventually have a simple blood test to determine carriers and PRA affected Cotons so they can be removed from the gene pool. We wish to give special thanks to Heiko Steinmann of the German Club who gave this effort his total engagement. Working together against PRA we are strong. Heiko Steinmann has taken the lead in the fight against PRA in the Coton de Tulear breed. Let us do all that we can to support and help Heiko Steinmann and all those involved in this work. They deserve our deepest gratitude and respect. Here is an account of the results to date as well as a compilation of PRA affected Cotons. The pedigrees of these Cotons are made public with the expectation that they will be used for informational purposes and not, as is so often the case, for breeders to use to unfairly ostracize individual dogs, lines or kennels. This information is provided by Heiko Steinmann and by Susanne Gaertner who has translated Heiko's words into English:
Dear Ron,
My name is Susanne
Gaertner, I am a member of the German Coton Association (CTV).
I got to know that you
asked Brigitte Jesperson because you are interested in the current PRA project
of the "Ruhr University of Bochum" for the Cotons and also in the article
about this, which was published in the actual issue of our club magazine.
The leader of our breeding
department of our club, Mr. Heiko Steinmann has spent nearly two years of time
and a lot of energy in collecting information about the PRA disease in Cotons,
including to identify some dogs which are PRA affected or carriers.
In this matter he is
working together with the University of Bochum/Germany which is developing
gene tests for PRA, this university has already developed tests for other
breeds and now they are working on a test for the Coton.
It is our inner wish to
invite you and share this information with you, therefore we translated the
article into English language. You are very welcome to read through the
document and publish it on your website or in your magazine.
One thing is very
important, the pedigrees are not shown for finding guilty dogs or to accuse
breeders. If the people really care for the backgrounds about PRA they know
that they don't have to worry about carriers, these pedigrees are made for
helping the breeders to find the right breeding decisions and interrupt PRA
lines.
If you have any further
questions please feel free to contact Heiko Steinmann or me (you find the
addresses in the document), we will be very happy to assist you.
Sincerely
Susanne Gärtner
PRA – where is the journey taking
us??? Generalised progressive Retinal Atrophy (gPRA) is an inherited eye disease in dogs. This continually proceeding Eye disease leads at the end always to blindness. At the beginning of the twentieth century this disorder was first described in Gordon Setters in Europe, but is since then till today a big problem for the breeders of the most purebreed dogs. In all dog breeds you can observe the same features of the sickness. At the beginning of the disease, affected dogs are night blind, and there is the loss of the ability to adjust the vision to dim light. Later on also their daytime vision is failing. First signs of this are unsure behaviour in the normal environment. Meanwhile the pupils of their eyes become dilated, this is caused by a noticeable reflection of light to their eyes, and the lens of the eyes becomes cloudy and opaque resulting in a cataract. In nearly all breeds PRA is studied as an autosomal recessive disorder. That means that an affected puppy must have received one defective gene copy from the father and one defective gene copy from the mother. This means that both parents must be carrier of the defective gene copy or are affected by PRA themselves. As affected dogs own two defective gene copies, all their progeny will be at least again carriers of one defective gene copy. Why is a gene test useful? What do we know about the Coton?
With
the help of the gene test it is possible to identify PRA already in the puppy
age before the first signs appear and also before this individual dog is used
for breeding. In the breed of the Cotons PRA is inherited as autosomal recessive and shows a rather later onset of the disease. The PRA causing gene defect couldn’t be described for this breed up to now. Since April 2004 eight Cotons, thereof four affected, are part of the PRA research project of human genetic department of the “Ruhr University Bochum”, here three genes have been examined for the PRA causing disorder. Up to now it has been found out that these genes are not responsible for the PRA disease. In the nearer future further genes shall be examinated to find the cause for the gene defect in the breed of the Cotons and to develop a gene test. For this it is urgently necessary to provide blood of PRA affected dogs. Very important would be!!! that breeders would provide eyes of their already deceased Cotons, furthermore urgently an eye of a PRA affected dog is required. It would help all Cotons!!!! This project is supported by a free company – nevertheless the university would be thankful about donations. This surely would accelerate the research of the Coton breed. All Coton countries are called to make donations, further informations can be requested at Susanne Gaertner, kasse@coton-online.de
|
PRA-AFFECTED COTONS
WEERA FIN25893/97 (2002)
|
|
|
Oklahoma of Woodland Cottage |
M'Popov des Toliary Stars |
Koton-Kiss of Woodland Cottage |
|
Ana |
||||
|
Jezabel of Woodland Cottage |
U'Hutchinsson du domaine de Manakarra |
|||
|
Rosa-Lee de Guitelione |
||||
|
Fantine de Champlet |
Bandit de la Fosse aux Renards |
Vadim de Celuxia |
||
|
Venus |
||||
|
Bellis the Valaury's Cottage |
Smocky des Terres du Pacifique |
|||
|
Tiffany |
||||
|
|
Onyx des Toliary Stars |
Merlin l'Enchaunteur |
Kingy of Woodland Cottage |
|
|
Lolita of Woodland Cottage |
||||
|
Jouvencelle of Woodland Cottage |
H'Starsky of Woodland Cottage |
|||
|
Ullapool de Guitelione |
||||
|
ONLY-LOVE DES TOLIARY STAR |
Coton d'Aiguevives |
Alex d'Aiguevives |
||
|
Vamp dite Valentine d'Aiguevives |
||||
|
Maya des Monts Kuen-Lun |
Kingy of Woodland Cottage |
|||
|
Hioko-Tani of Woodland Cottage |
||||
|
|
|
Goldorak de Maleverne |
Bimbo de la Perle de l'Ocean Indien |
Vanoi de la Perle de l'Ocean Indien |
|
Sambava of Madecasses |
||||
|
Lovingly des Monts Kuen-Lun |
Valet de Coeur d'Aiguevives |
|||
|
Joolye-Kwandy |
||||
|
Ophelie des toliary stars |
Koton-Kiss of Woodland Cottage |
U'Hutchinsson du domaine de Manakarra |
||
|
Rosa-Lee de Guitelione |
||||
|
Camomille d'Aiguevives |
Alex d'Aiguevives |
|||
|
Vamp dite Valentine d'Aiguevives |
||||
|
|
Mokka des Petites Folies |
Irtysj of Woodland Cottage |
Smocky des Terres du Pacifique |
|
|
Tsara |
||||
|
Arabesque du Domaine de Manakarra |
Un Ours Blanc du Domaine de Manakarra |
|||
|
Rosse Globule des Tourtelles de Clessy |
||||
|
La-Babouche |
Joly-Jumper (ti) |
|
||
|
|
||||
|
Karena des Monts Kuen-Lun |
Valet de Coeur d'Aiguevives |
|||
|
Hioko-Tani of Woodland Cottage |
|
ALBESCO ASSARACUS |
Oklahoma of Woodland Cottage |
M'Popov des Toliary Stars |
Koton-Kiss of Woodland Cottage |
U'Hutchinsson du domaine de Manakarra |
|
Rosa-Lee de Guitelione |
||||
|
Ana |
Un Ours Blanc du Domaine de Manakarra |
|||
|
Uella du Chateau de Maudetour |
||||
|
Jezabel of Woodland Cottage |
U'Hutchinsson du domaine de Manakarra |
James (ti) |
||
|
Saranoya Poiluedes Des Tourtelles De Clessy |
||||
|
Rosa-Lee de Guitelione |
James (ti) |
|||
|
Ophelie (ti) |
||||
|
Fantine de Champlet |
Bandit de la Fosse aux Renards |
Vadim de Celuxia |
Sherry |
|
|
Ugaline (ti) |
||||
|
Venus |
Roi de Coeur d'Aiguevives |
|||
|
Savonette Blanche du Domaine de Manakarra |
||||
|
Bellis the Valaury's Cottage |
Smocky des Terres du Pacifique |
V'bill (ti) |
||
|
Paloma (ti) |
||||
|
Tiffany |
Sherry |
|||
|
Renita (ti) |
||||
|
Sharinjah Winsome Witch |
Onyx des Toliary Stars |
Merlin l'Enchaunteur |
Kingy of Woodland Cottage |
JEREMIE DE SHIGATSE SHANGTU |
|
Jezabel of Woodland Cottage |
||||
|
Lolita of Woodland Cottage |
U'Hutchinsson du domaine de Manakarra |
|||
|
Rosa-Lee de Guitelione |
||||
|
Jouvencelle of Woodland Cottage |
H'Starsky of Woodland Cottage |
Smocky des Terres du Pacifique |
||
|
Rosa-Lee de Guitelione |
||||
|
Ullapool de Guitelione |
Smocky des Terres du Pacifique |
|||
|
Selimene de Guitelione |
||||
|
ONLY-LOVE DES TOLIARY STARS |
Coton d'Aiguevives |
Alex d'Aiguevives |
Voyoy d'Aiguevives |
|
|
Pastelle des Tourtelles de Clessy |
||||
|
Vamp dite Valentine d'Aiguevives |
Roi de Coeur d'Aiguevives |
|||
|
Serad d'Aiguevives |
||||
|
Maya des Monts Kuen-Lun |
Kingy of Woodland Cottage |
JEREMIE DE SHIGATSE SHANGTU |
||
|
Jezabel of Woodland Cottage |
||||
|
Hioko-Tani of Woodland Cottage |
Smocky des Terres du Pacifique |
|||
|
Rosa-Lee de Guitelione |
|
Jujube the Valaury's Cottage |
Coffee the Valaury's Cottage |
U'Hutchinsson du Domaine de Manakarra |
James (ti) |
|
|
|
||||
|
Saranoya Poiluedes Des Tourtelles De Clessy |
I'pepito (ti) |
|||
|
Mina |
||||
|
Tiffany |
Sherry |
V'bill (ti) |
||
|
Noemie de Guitelione(ti) |
||||
|
Renita (ti) |
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
Flanelle the Valaury's Cottage |
Dakirou de Champlet |
Ajax de Matitis |
R'Zoma (ti) |
|
|
Sandy (ti) |
||||
|
Bellis the Valaury's Cottage |
Smocky des Terres du Pacifique |
|||
|
Tiffany |
||||
|
Dynastie the Valaury's Cottage |
L'kombavazaha of Woodland Cottage |
Irtysj of Woodland Cottage |
||
|
Jezabel of Woodland Cottage |
||||
|
Tiffany |
Sherry |
|||
|
Renita (ti) |
||||
|
Iglou du mas of Sunnyside |
Ghost du Royaume de la Mesange |
Estefan the Valaurys Cottage |
Coffee the Valaury's Cottage |
U'Hutchinsson du Domaine de Manakarra |
|
Tiffany |
||||
|
Cindy the Valaury's Cottage |
JEREMIE DE SHIGATSE SHANGTU |
|||
|
Amelie |
||||
|
Beauty |
Ulysse |
|
||
|
|
||||
|
Vickie |
Tokana |
|||
|
Sarah (ti) |
||||
|
Geisha du Royaume de la Mesange |
Vanderling du Domaine de Manakarra |
Ulysse |
James (ti) |
|
|
Jypsi (ti) |
||||
|
Rosse Globule des Tourtelles de Clessy |
I'pepito (ti) |
|||
|
Mina |
||||
|
Eirline du Royaume de la Mesange |
Bunny de la Ferlanderie |
Urgan du Domaine De Manakarra |
||
|
Varuna |
||||
|
Beauty |
Ulysse |
|||
|
Vickie |
|
Goldorak de Maleverne |
Bimbo de la Perle de l'Ocean Indien |
Vanoi de la Perle de l'Ocean Indien |
Okazaki Pong (ti) |
|
|
|
||||
|
Tokywa de la perle de l'Ocean Indien |
Okazaki Pong (ti) |
|||
|
Ping (ti) |
||||
|
Sambava of Madecasses |
Okazaki Pong (ti) |
|
||
|
|
||||
|
Raozy (ti) |
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
Lovingly des Monts Kuen-Lun |
Valet de Coeur d'Aiguevives |
Roi de Coeur d'Aiguevives |
James (ti) |
|
|
Lina (ti) |
||||
|
Serad d'Aiguevives |
Oscar dit Petit Prince |
|||
|
Pwallis Dite Plume (ti) |
||||
|
Joolye-Kwandy |
U'Hutchinsson du domaine de Manakarra |
James (ti) |
||
|
SaranoyaPoiluedesDesTourtellesDeClessy |
||||
|
Uessa de Guitelione |
Smocky des Terres du Pacifique |
|||
|
Selimene de Guitelione |
||||
|
Ophelie des toliary stars |
Koton-Kiss of Woodland Cottage |
U'Hutchinsson du domaine de Manakarra |
James (ti) |
|
|
|
||||
|
SaranoyaPoiluedesDesTourtellesDeClessy |
I'pepito (ti) |
|||
|
Mina |
||||
|
Rosa-Lee de Guitelione |
James (ti) |
|
||
|
|
||||
|
Ophelie (ti) |
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
Camomille d'Aiguevives |
Alex d'Aiguevives |
Voyoy d'Aiguevives |
Roi de Coeur d'Aiguevives |
|
|
Serad d'Aiguevives |
||||
|
Pastelle des Tourtelles de Clessy |
James (ti) |
|||
|
Nesse (ti) |
||||
|
Vamp dite Valentine d'Aiguevives |
Roi de Coeur d'Aiguevives |
James (ti) |
||
|
Lina (ti) |
||||
|
Serad d'Aiguevives |
Oscar dit Petit Prince |
|||
|
Pwallis Dite Plume (ti) |
|
Coton d'Aiguevives |
Alex d'Aiguevives |
Voyoy d'Aiguevives |
Roi de Coeur d'Aiguevives |
James (ti) |
|
Lina (ti) |
||||
|
Serad d'Aiguevives |
Oscar dit Petit Prince |
|||
|
Pwallis Dite Plume (ti) |
||||
|
Pastelle des Tourtelles de Clessy |
James (ti) |
|
||
|
|
||||
|
Nesse (ti) |
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
Vamp dite Valentine d'Aiguevives |
Roi de Coeur d'Aiguevives |
James (ti) |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Lina (ti) |
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
Serad d'Aiguevives |
Oscar dit Petit Prince |
James (ti) |
||
|
Lina (ti) |
||||
|
Pwallis Dite Plume (ti) |
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
Maya des Monts Kuen-Lun |
Kingy of Woodland Cottage |
JEREMIE DE SHIGATSE SHANGTU |
U'Hutchinsson du domaine de manakarra |
James (ti) |
|
Saranoya Poiluedes Des Tourtelles De Clessy |
||||
|
Tiara Coraline du Domaine de Manakarra |
Roi de Coeur d'Aiguevives |
|||
|
Rosee Perlee des Tourtelles des Clessy |
||||
|
Jezabel of Woodland Cottage |
U'Hutchinsson du domaine de manakarra |
James (ti) |
||
|
Saranoya Poiluedes Des Tourtelles De Clessy |
||||
|
Rosa-Lee de Guitelione |
James (ti) |
|||
|
Ophelie (ti) |
||||
|
Hioko-Tani of Woodland Cottage |
Smocky des Terres du Pacifique |
V'bill (ti) |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Paloma (ti) |
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
Rosa-Lee de Guitelione |
James (ti) |
|
||
|
|
||||
|
Ophelie (ti) |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
|
I'pepito (ti) |
U'Chica |
||
|
U'Nina |
||||
|
Mina |
J'Whisky (ti) |
|||
|
J'Wallis (ti) |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||||
|
|
J'Whisky (ti) |
|||
|
J'Wallis (ti) |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
V'bill (ti) |
|
Paloma (ti) |
||||
|
|
Papango (ti) |
|||
|
Patsa (ti) |
||||
|
|
|
James (ti) |
||
|
Saranoya Poiluedes Des Tourtelles De Clessy |
||||
|
|
James (ti) |
|||
|
Ophelie (ti) |
||||
|
|
|
|
V'bill (ti) |
|
|
Paloma (ti) |
||||
|
|
James (ti) |
|||
|
Ophelie (ti) |
||||
|
|
|
V'bill (ti) |
||
|
Paloma (ti) |
||||
|
|
Okazaki Pong (ti) |
|||
|
Ophelie (ti) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
