The Kennel Club has approved a new official DNA testing scheme for degenerative myelopathy (DM) in the Rhodesian Ridgeback, following consultation with the breed’s health co-ordinator on behalf of the breed.
Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive neurological disease that causes a range of symptoms and often leads to euthanasia due to poor quality of life.
The disease is believed to be an autosomal-recessive condition. This means that dogs that inherit two copies of the DM gene mutation (one from its mother and one from its father) will have an increased risk of developing the condition.
This disease is not fully understood, and it is believed that environmental factors or other genetic influences can also contribute to whether a dog becomes affected. Having other factors that influence whether or not a dog is affected by this condition means that having two copies of the recessive mutant gene does not necessarily result in clinical disease and similarly, an absence of the gene is not a guarantee that the condition will not occur.
Tested dogs will be recorded on the Kennel Club systems as either:
Clear
The dog does not have any copies of the abnormal gene associated with the disease. The dog is at the lowest risk of being clinically affected and will only pass on a normal copy of the gene to a puppy.
Carrier
The dog has one copy of the normal gene and one copy of the abnormal gene associated with the disease. The dog is unlikely to be clinically affected, but is at a slightly increased risk, and may pass one copy of the normal gene, or one copy of the abnormal gene on to a puppy.
Affected
The dog has two copies of the abnormal gene associated with the disease. The dog will be at a higher risk of being clinically affected by the disorder and will pass one copy of the abnormal gene on to any potential offspring.
Test results will be added to the dog’s registration details which will trigger the publication of the result in the next available Breed Records Supplement and also on the Health Test Results Finder on the Kennel Club website.
Results for dogs already tested can also be recorded, but owners will need to submit copies of the DNA certificates themselves. DNA test certificates should be scanned and emailed to Health results (The Kennel Club)
More information about DNA testing is available via a webinar, delivered by The Kennel Club’s geneticist, Dr Joanna Illska “The Science of DNA Testing”.
Owners are reminded that:
- from August 2018, it is mandatory that the dog’s microchip (or tattoo) is recorded along with either the dog’s registered name or registered number on any DNA certificates. Any test results issued after that date that do not carry these identifying features will not be accepted.
- The Kennel Club has a set of criteria that we request DNA testing laboratories to meet to enable us to record their results, helping to maintain and protect the integrity of results that appear on a dog’s records. We have updated the list of laboratories that we accept results from and strongly advise that customers ensure their chosen laboratory is included on our revised list if they wish The Kennel Club to record and publish the results. Results from laboratories not included on this list will not be recorded.
To find out which laboratories The Kennel Club is able to record results from, and which laboratories will send results directly to The Kennel Club, please refer to our website. To find out which DNA tests are relevant to your breed, visit Breeds A-Z.
The Kennel Club constantly reviews DNA testing schemes in conjunction with breed clubs to ensure that breeders are supported with resources which help them to make responsible breeding decisions. The Kennel Club works alongside breed clubs and breed health coordinators in a collaborative effort to improve the health of pedigree dogs and is happy to consider a club's request to add a new DNA test to its lists. A formal request from the breed's health coordinator or a majority request from the breed clubs is normally required to do this.