Description:  Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a hereditary disease that occurs in many dog breeds and manifests in various clinically unrecognizable forms. The progressive degeneration of the rods and cones in the retina leads to a progressive loss of vision, which results in complete blindness. For shelties, a form of PRA called CNGA1-PRA has been described. On average, clinical symptoms manifest at the age of 5 years (2-11 years).

Inheritance: autosomal recessive

Mutation: c.1752_1755delAACT in exon 9 of the CNGA1 gene

Sample: EDTA whole blood (1.0 ml) or 2 buccal brushes. For official purposes, the confirmation of the dog’s identity by Veterinarian is recommended.

The analysis is suitable for the following breeds: Shetland sheepdog

Notes: The breed suffers from another form of retinal degeneration (SPR) that progresses more slowly and does not cause as obvious visual impairment as PRA. Unfortunately, there is no genetic test for SPR yet.