OPTIGEN for genetic testing

PLL is a important inherited disease of the eye that is associated with disintegration of the zonule fibers that hold the lens in place. Once the lens is displaced from its normal position. It "subluxates" or "luxates", Serious and often painful secondary glaucoma can occur;blindness is a commen outcome. PLL is always a bilateral condition however there may be a period of several months or longer between the points when the two lenses luxate.

DNA test results for the PLL mutatiot will show that dogs are in one of the three categories:

*NORMAL/CLEAR:These dogs will not develop the condition due to the PLL mutation and will not pass the mutation on to their offspring. Ther are other causes of PLL,both inherited and acquired, besides the reported PLL mutation that can not be excluded by DNA testing.

*CARRIER: These dogs carry ONE copy of the PLL mutation and ONE copy of the Normal/Wild type gene. As stated by the AHT, where the original PLL work was conducted,"Our research has demonstrated that carriers have a very low risk of developing PLL. The majority of carriers do not develop PLL during their lives but a small percentage do. We currently estimate that between 2% than 20%. We do not currently know why some carriers develop the condition whereas the majority do not.

Owners of PLL-Carrier dogs should discuss the test results with their veterinary opthalmologist in order that a PLL monitoring plan can be put into effect.

AFFECTED- These dogs carry TWO copies of the PLL mutation and are very likely to develope PLL in there lifetime.Owners of PLL-Affected dogs should discuss the test results with their veterinary ophthalmologist in order that a PLL monitoring plan can be put into effect.

Breeding Advice:

Because the incidence of PLL is very high in some breeds,breeders should be cautious in eliminating carries from the breeding population too quickly and thereby removing desirable traits and/or introducing unknown recessive defects into the population.

Any breeding pair should contain at least one dog that has been tested for PLL and is genetically NORMAL . Breeders should assess All of the prospective breeding dog's traits ,including its PLL genetic status as one factor in the assessment. By choosing breeding dogs based on the whole animal, not just a DNA test results, breeders can retain all of the good qualities of a dog/line while moving away from a disease mutation identified by a specific DNA test.

OPTIGEN for the genetic testing

The Optigen PRCD-PRA Test

The Optigen prcd-PRA test is a DNA-based test that hepls you avoid one form of Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). PRA referes to a group of diseases that cause the retina of the eye to degenerate slowly over time. The results is declining vision and eventual blindness."prcd" stands for "progressive rod-cone degeneration".Which is the type of PRA known in several breeds. Its important to remember that not all retinal disease is PRA and not all PRA is the prcd form of PRA. Annual, eye exams by a veterinary ophthalmologist will build a history of eye health that will help to diagnose disease.