DUAL CHAMPION, AFTCH
Firemark’s Push Comes To Shove
Am. ***
(all-age pointed under two years of age)

"Push"

AKC Reg. # SN842003/03
CKC Reg. #  1077251
DOB -  May 20, 2001

For Pedigree & Health Clearance information click here

PRCD-PRA DNA Test Report December 05, 2007

Owner's Name and Address:
Michael D Ducross & Valerie H Ducross

17725 Robinson Corner Road
Maxville, Ontario K0C 1T0
Canada

Registered Name: Firemark's Push Comes To Shove
Registration #: SN842003/03
Tattoo/Chip #: 4DD14
Call Name: Push

Breed: Golden Retriever
Date of Birth: May 20, 2001
Gender: Male

Optigen Accession #: 07-11193

Test Performed: prcd Mutation Test for PRA

Sample Type: Blood

Test Results: Genotype of your dog is Carrier.

Risk for developing PRA: This dog will never develop the prcd form of PRA
(progressive rod-cone degeneration form of Progressive Retinal Atrophy).
Note that PRA in Golden Retrievers appears to consist of at least two
different genetic defects. Because only a small number of PRA affected
Golden Retrievers have been tested so far, it is not possible to estimate
the frequency of prcd-PRA among PRA affecteds of this breed. A Golden
Retriever of known status for prcd-PRA could still be at risk for another,
as yet unidentified form of PRA.

Significance for breeding: Carrier dogs should be bred only to a mate of
Normal/Clear genotype to avoid producing pups affected with the prcd form of
PRA.

For further information, please consult the OptiGen website at
www.optigen.com.

PRA in Golden Retrievers

In late winter 2007, a blood sample from a PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) affected Golden Retriever was tested at OptiGen as part of our “Free Testing for PRA-Affected Purebred Dogs” program. This 5-year-old Golden had been examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist, Dr. Gus Aguirre, who recognized changes in the dog’s retina typical of PRA and suggested to the owner that the sample be submitted to our free testing/research program. Test results revealed that the dog had the prcd (progressive rod cone degeneration) form of PRA, a disease now identified in over 20 breeds of dog.

Fortunately, PRA is rare in the Golden Retriever. It is not the same disease as retinal dysplasia, a condition characterized by folds in the retina of varying number, distribution and severity. According to the “Ocular Disorders Presumed to be Inherited in Purebred Dogs, 5^th edition, 2007”, published by the Genetics Committee of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, PRA was diagnosed in fewer than 1% of Goldens examined by veterinary ophthalmologists from 2000-2005. Prior to receiving the 2007 sample, OptiGen had tested a few other PRA-Affected Goldens from the U.S. that were sent in as part of our research program; none of these had the prcd form of PRA. Drs. Aguirre and Acland, who have conducted extensive research on prcd-PRA at the Universities of Pennsylvania and Cornell, have tested DNA samples from PRA-affected Goldens from Europe that did not have the prcd form of the disease.

So what does this all mean for the conscientious Golden Retriever breeder? As of Spring 2007, prcd-PRA is very rare in Goldens and seems unlikely to become a widespread problem in the breed. The owner of the prcd-PRA-affected dog has diligently contacted members of the Golden Retriever Club of America (GRCA) as well as breeders whose dogs share bloodlines with this dog and they, in turn have been in contact with OptiGen. These breeders have similarly contacted the owners of other relatives of the affected dog. It is primarily within this limited group of Goldens that testing for prcd-PRA would be most beneficial at this time. Other Goldens, especially those with no family history of PRA, are probably at very low risk for prcd and testing would not seem to be a high priority for now.  Any owner of a Golden who wishes to order a prcd-PRA test may now do so through our regular process.  For complete instructions, see our website (http://www.optigen.com/opt9_request.html) or call (607) 257-0301.

OptiGen strictly adheres to a confidentiality agreement with its clients and will not release any information on samples received or tested without the signed consent of the owner. We will continue to update this page as our understanding of PRA in the Golden Retriever develops. The most valuable resource to aid this research would be a larger set of DNA samples from other PRA-Affected Goldens. We thus encourage any owner of a PRA-Affected Golden Retriever to contact OptiGen for inclusion in this research (http://www.optigen.com/opt9_research.html).