Category: Cerebellar Ataxia

Since March 2008, we have been able to test for Cerebellar Ataxia through the Animal Health Trust.  We are now reaching the time when tested dogs may appear further back in pedigrees so the Health Committee would like to remind all breeders and stud dog owners of the recommendations for testing. The Kennel Club have now agreed to recognise the linkage based test and results will be published in the quarterly Breed Record Supplements. Because the test is linkage based, the KC will not recognise a status of “cleared by parentage”.  As a result, the ISCGB have successfully campaigned for the CA Test to be a Requirement for Assured Breeders and Club Members.

The CA Status of each individual dog is shown on their information page and these are updated quarterly (or you can send us a copy of your certificate for a quicker update). To learn how CA is inherited, view our CA Inheritance document.

CA Testing News

Posted on by gifts_l2p6pp

We have been working hard to enable Cerebellar Ataxia (CA) testing is available worldwide and we have some great news to share with you.

UK Only As you are aware Canine Genetics Testing (the Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the University of Cambridge) will be processing all the UK CA Swabs.

To order swabs for UK testing go to: UK CA SWAB TEST ORDER

Outside the UK Labogen is the EU laboratory that will process all swabs from countries outside the UK.

The Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the University of Cambridge have partnered with Laboklin whose European Laboratory will process the swabs.

To order your swabs for Worldwide testing go to: WORLDWIDE CA SWAB TEST ORDER

PLEASE email a copy of your results certificate to castatus@italianspinone.co.uk and your dog’s CA Status will be added to the ISCGB website and health database.

Continue reading “CA Testing News” →

CA Test Update March 2021

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The genetics team from the AHT have secured a laboratory at Cambridge University, contracts are still being negotiated between the University of Cambridge the Kennel club and Kennel Club Charitable Trust. They hope to be able to recommence the CA testing service in 2-3 months assuming things go smoothly with contracts and university appointments for the testing posts.

Since 2020 I have been in continued discussions with several other laboratories. There are now two of the original four laboratories that responded to my request for them to develop a DNA test for CA.
Dr Mellersh has offered her help and support with those two laboratories in the development of the test.

I have forwarded Dr Mellersh’s contact details to the laboratories, we are now awaiting their decisions. Both laboratories will require affected, carrier and control samples to properly validate the test and will have to develop the test from scratch which may have a financial implication, even if this is added to the cost of the test once developed.

Once they have consulted with Dr Mellersh we will have a better idea of costs and timescales involved in developing new tests.

Elaine Kirkham
ISCGB Health Co-ordinator
March 2021

CA Breeding Protocol

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ISCGB Interim CA Breeding Protocol

If you are new to the Spinone or are not familiar with Cerebellar Ataxia (CA), please take the time to learn about this FATAL disease in the Italian Spinone. It occurs when 2 dogs who are carriers of CA are bred together. Statistically 1 in 4 puppies will be affected and have to be euthanased around 9 months of age. A further 2 in 4 puppies will themselves be carriers and can pass this on if bred from, so even in a small litter it is highly likely that 1 or more puppies will be impacted.

Continue reading “CA Breeding Protocol” →

Testing for Cerebellar Ataxia

Posted on by gifts_l2p6pp

 Don’t forget we now have a DNA test for Cerebellar Ataxia.

Since March 2008, we have been able to test for Cerebellar Ataxia through the Animal Health Trust.  We are now reaching the time when tested dogs may appear further back in pedigrees so the Health Committee would like to remind all breeders and stud dog owners of the recommendations for testing.

Continue reading “Testing for Cerebellar Ataxia” →