Cerebellar Ataxiais a neurological disorder. This disease is also called Cerebellar Cortical Degeneration or Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL).
The first signs of the disease usually appear between 3 and 5 years of age in affected dogs.
More rarely, early or late-onset symptoms can appear between 1.5-3 years or after 5 years. Symptoms are loss of balance, difficulty cornering, andfalling when shaking their head. When they became unable to walk without falling repeatedly, owners usually make the difficult choice to euthanize.
The clinical diagnosis is realized by excluding others diseases and confirmed by a MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).
ANTAGENE commercialises the NCL-A test in the American Staffordshire Terrier.
The technology underlying this test is patented world-wide by INRA and ENVA. ANTAGENE has an exclusive license to provide this test in Europe and in the World.
The Cerebellar Ataxia is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern.
Pilot studies achieved during the development of the test revealed a high frequency of carrier dogs in the french population of AmStaff (30%). In addition, collaboration with Dr Natasha Olby (North Carolina StateU niversity, Raleigh) confirmed that american dogs carry the same disease-causing mutation as the one identified in french dogs.
Why testing your dog ?
• detection of affected dogs before the first symptoms,
• easy identification of this disease before considering other time and money-consuming exams,
• aide in selecting sires and dams to be bred,
• avoiding selling dogs who will eventually become affected,
• controlling the dissemination of the genetic defect in the breed.
For further information:
cerebellar ataxia note 70.83 KB 16.09.2008
Patent INRA-ENVA - International exclusive license ANTAGENE
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