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A DNA test for Fucosidosis in dogs
What is Fucosidosis?
A DNA test for Fucosidosis
Fucosidosis is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait that was found in
English Springer Spaniels. The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary
Medicine discovered the molecular defect causing the disorder and developed DNA tests
to detect affected animals and carriers.
Breeders should consider screening their animals for the presence of carriers. Any
English Springer Spaniel that exhibits multifocal neurological signs,
especially a dog descended from English families, should be tested for Fucosidosis.
Applying the DNA test allows breeders to classify their potential breeding animals
at a young age as genetically healthy ("clear"), "carrier" or "affected" in order
to select effectively against the genetic disorder.
The Fucosidosis DNA test yields three possible outcomes:
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Your dog is clear (and has two healthy alleles: Fuco/Fuco), it
will not suffer from Fucosidosis and, just as important, it will not pass on
the defect (the defective allele) to the next generation.
-
Your dog is a carrier (and has one healthy allele and one defective one: Fuco/fuco),
it will not suffer from Fucosidosis but it will pass on the defective allele to half of
its offspring.
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Your dog is affected (and has two defective alleles: fuco/fuco), it will
pass on the defective allele to all of its offspring in the next generation and it will be
expected to experience the disadvantages of ongoing storange of polysaccharides in its cells.
So it is one of the animals that will suffer from Fucosidosis.
Breeds at risk
Breeding policy
Testing for Fucosidosis
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