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I
would like to inform any Papillon owner
about genetic/research information
to
anyone interested in helping our Papillon.
Should you encounter the eye disease PRA, (
Progressive retinal atrophy )
and have a
dog that is either blind or going blind,
then you will be able to help with the
research project of the
Papillon Club of
America (PCA).
PRA
is an inherited disease that is in the
gene pool of dozens of
breeds and each
breed has a specific set of markers for
this
disease. Dogs with prcd-form of PRA
will become obvious with the
examination
of the retina, generally by 3-5 years of
age.
It has been recognized as late as
9-10 years however.
Of course the dog has
been bred by this time therefore the
disease
is being perpetuated without the
breeders knowledge.
Carriers of the
disease can remain hidden for generations,
thereby increasing the likelihood of
spreading blindness.
WE NEED A TEST for
this disease.
In
order to develop PRA, a dog inherits two
copies of the defective
gene: one from its
dam, one from its sire. The parents may be
normal eyed in appearance. Two of these
genes in a dog causes
the disease. There
is no treatment, no cure, and no way to
stop it
short of a test for the genetic
trait. In order to find the markers for
the disease in Papillons, the PCA has
entered into a research
contract with Dr.
Simon Petersen-Jones of Michigan State
University. The PCA has given $11,300 this
year and another similar
amount is to be
given next year.
This money is MATCHED by
the AKC Canine Health Fund.
If
you have a dog that has been diagnosed with PRA (this is why we
need to
have our dogs periodically examined by a Veterinarian
Ophthalmologist)
then you can help with Dr. Petersen-Jones
research and the PCA will be
indebted to you.
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