Pravkar sem izvedela razveselivo novico o testu DNA za LOA(Late Onset Ataxia) seveda za parsone, ki ga bo možno narediti od 1.novembra 2012 naprej pri AHT.
Kaj sploh je LOA:
SPINOCEREBELLAR ATAXIA
Late Onset Ataxia
What is it?
Spinocellebellar Ataxia (SCA) is a condition, which starts to affects puppies from the ages of 4 –9 months approximately.
This condition should not be confused with Cebellar Ataxia, which is early on set, which we are told has been researched and that the 2 conditions are totally unrelated.
These early symptoms tend to be intermittent in that the dog may appear perfectly normal some days but not others. Some of the early signs area unsteady drunken like gait, the puppy usually does not like slippery floors and they are unwilling to go upstairs.
As the disease progresses the limbs are lifted in an exaggerated manner, often described as goose-stepping. The puppy may become unsteady, falling over occasionally.
Throughout the period of the disease the dog appears to suffer no pain, has a healthy appetite, has normal bodily functions. It will play and enjoy daily walks as any normal dog would. In some cases the dog will stabilise when they reach about 18 months old but the symptoms do not completely go away and the dog will have the condition all of its life. Some physiotherapy/swimming does seem to help the symptoms but this does not eradicate it. Dogs can go on to lead a normal happy family life. Here is a video of a JRT with SCA http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jrt+ataxia&search_type=
How is it Inherited?
It is not certain what the mode of inheritance is, there are 2 likely traits:
It could be caused by Autosomal Recessive gene, which means is can happen to either sex and both parents have to carry the gene before an affected puppy will be produced.
Affected x affected = all affected
Affected x carrier = 50% affected 50% Carriers
Affected x Clear =all Carriers
(Affected dogs would not usually be bred from)
Carrier x Clear = 50% carrier 50% clear
Carrier x Carrier =25% clear 25% affected 50% carriers
The other thought is that is could be a Polygenic mode of inheritance
Polygenic, means many genes. Let’s say an animal needs four genes to be affected call them ABCD. One parent carries ABOO, and the other, OOCD. The offspring could inherit ABOO, ABCO, AOOO, OBCD, OBOD..........OOOO. 64 possible combinations. There is a 1:64 chance an offspring will be affected, 62:64 of being a carrier, and 1:64 of being totally clear. Nobody knows how many genes are involved in SCA. The more there are, the harder they will be to identify. They may not even be on the same chromosome!
If this disease is polygenic it will be very difficult to find a marker gene an example of a disease which is polygenic is Hip Displasia.
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