Susceptibility to Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) in Italian Greyhounds

Quick Summary

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a genetic disease characterized by progressive photoreceptor degeneration that leads to blindness. Mutations in 5 loci are associated with susceptibility to 90% of the PRA in Italian Greyhounds.
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Phenotype: Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is characterized by progressive degeneration of the photoreceptors in the retina that leads to blindness. On average PRA in Italian Greyhounds is diagnosed at 6.5 years of age.

Alleles:

Mutations in 5 loci are associated with susceptibility to 90% of the PRA in Italian Greyhounds.

  • Locus A: A = Normal, a = PRA-risk allele
  • Locus B: B = Normal, b = PRA-risk allele
  • Locus C: C = Normal, c = PRA-risk allele
  • Locus D: D = Normal, d = PRA-risk allele
  • Locus E: E = Normal, e = PRA-risk allele

Breeds appropriate for testing: Italian Greyhound

Explanation of Results:

  • Dogs with aa or dd genotype are 30 times more likely to develop PRA-IG1 progressive retinal atrophy.
  • Dogs with Aa/b-/c- genotype (dashes represent either allele) are 9 times more likely to develop PRA-IG1 progressive retinal atrophy (PRA-IG1b subtype).
  • Dogs with Aa/d-/e- genotype (dashes represent either allele) are 5 times more likely to develop PRA-IG1 progressive retinal atrophy (PRA-IG1c subtype).
  • Dogs with AA genotype are at low risk of progressive retinal atrophy. Matings between dogs with AA genotype (and without “d” variant) will yield low risk offspring.
  • Dogs with Aa/BB/CC or Aa/b-/C- or Aa/B-/c- genotype (dashes represent either allele) are at low risk of progressive retinal atrophy, but are carriers that may transmit PRA-risk allele(s) to their offspring.
  • Dogs with Aa/DD/-- or Aa/Dd/EE genotype (dashes represent either allele) are at low risk of progressive retinal atrophy, but are carriers that may transmit PRA-risk allele(s) to their offspring.

Results of this test can be submitted to the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals)

Price

$50 single test per animal ($5 discount on 3 or more dogs)
$30 as additional test on same animal

Panels Available
Turnaround Time
At least 15 business days; may be delayed beyond 15 business days if sample requires additional testing, or a new sample is requested.
Additional Details

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a genetic disease characterized by progressive degeneration of the photoreceptors in the retina that leads to blindness. There is no treatment for PRA. The incidence of PRA in Italian Greyhounds is 2-4% and it is usually diagnosed at 1 to 14 years of age (6.5 years average). Recent discoveries by University of California, Davis canine researchers Dr. Niels Pedersen and Hongwei Liu identified mutations in 5 loci that are associated with susceptibility to 90% of the PRA in Italian Greyhounds. This form of PRA, designated as PRA-IG1, can be subdivided into 3 subtypes (PRA-IG1a, 1b, and 1c) based on risk genotypes. PRA-IG1a is associated with allele (a) at the major locus that is solely responsible for blindness when in a homozygous state (aa). PRA-IG1b occurs when this allele is in the heterozygous state (Aa) and associated with alleles b and c. PRA-IG1c involves alleles a, d, and e loci in various combinations. PRA-IG1a comprises 42% of PRA cases in the breed, PRA-IG1b 29%, and PRA-IG1c 20%. The frequency of the PRA-risk alleles in the general population is shown in the following table:

Frequency of the normal and PRA-risk alleles in healthy Italian Greyhounds

Locus

A

B

C

D

E

PRA-risk allele

12%

30%

19%

9%

25%

Normal allele

88%

70%

81%

91%

75%

Total dogs tested

300

299

300

146

142

Based on this research, Italian Greyhounds are 30 times more likely to develop PRA-IG1 if they have either 2 copies of the mutation at the major locus (aa) or 2 copies of the mutation at minor locus D (dd). Italian Greyhounds are 9 times more likely if they have 1 copy of the mutation at the major locus and at least 1 copy of mutations at minor loci b and c (Aa/ b-/c- genotype). Italian Greyhounds are 5 times more likely to develop PRA if they have 1 copy of the mutation at the major locus and at least 1 copy of mutations at minor loci d and e (Aa/ d-/e- genotype). Matings between dogs with AA genotype (and without “d” variant) will yield low risk offspring. Breeders should avoid mating any dogs that will produce puppies with PRA-susceptible genotypes.

Testing to identify Italian Greyhounds at higher risk of PRA-IG1 assists breeders to select mating pairs that avoid producing puppies with higher risk to develop this form of PRA. This test can be used to confirm the diagnosis of this form of PRA.

 

Note: This test is specific for 5 mutations associated with susceptibility to the major cause of PRA presently occurring in the Italian Greyhound breed. This test is not valid for other breeds. It is important to note that there may be other genetic form(s) of PRA in the breed. Further research is needed to identify additional causative mutations in Italian Greyhounds diagnosed with PRA in the absence of a PRA-IG1 genotype.

Species

Dog

Type of Test

Results Reported As

 

Detailed report for PRA-IG1a status in Italian Greyhounds

Status

Risk factor

A

B

C

D

E

PRA-risk

30x

aa

--

--

--

--

PRA-risk

30x

aa

--

--

--

--

PRA-risk

30x

aa

--

--

--

--

PRA-risk

30x

aa

--

--

--

--

PRA-risk

30x

aa

--

--

--

--

PRA-risk

30x

aa

--

--

--

--

PRA-risk

30x

aa

--

--

--

--

PRA-risk

30x

aa

--

--

--

--

PRA-risk

30x

aa

--

--

--

--

 

Detailed report for PRA-IG1b status in Italian Greyhounds

Status

Risk factor

A

B

C

D

E

PRA-risk

9x

Aa

Bb

Cc

--

--

PRA-risk

9x

Aa

Bb

cc

--

--

PRA-risk

9x

Aa

bb

Cc

--

--

PRA-risk

9x

Aa

bb

cc

--

--

             

carrier

low

Aa

BB

CC

--

--

carrier

low

Aa

BB

Cc

--

--

carrier

low

Aa

BB

cc

--

--

carrier

low

Aa

Bb

CC

--

--

carrier

low

Aa

bb

CC

--

--

             

Normal

low

AA

BB

CC

--

--

Normal

low

AA

BB

Cc

--

--

Normal

low

AA

BB

cc

--

--

Normal

low

AA

Bb

CC

--

--

Normal

low

AA

Bb

Cc

--

--

Normal

low

AA

Bb

cc

--

--

Normal

low

AA

bb

CC

--

--

Normal

low

AA

bb

Cc

--

--

Normal

low

AA

bb

cc

--

--

 

Detailed report for PRA-IG1c status in Italian Greyhounds

Status

Risk factor

A

B

C

D

E

PRA-risk

30x

--

--

--

dd

--

PRA-risk

5x

Aa

--

--

Dd

Ee

PRA-risk

5x

Aa

--

--

Dd

ee

     

 

 

   

carrier

low

Aa

--

--

DD

EE

carrier

low

Aa

--

--

DD

Ee

carrier

low

Aa

--

--

DD

ee

carrier

low

Aa

--

--

Dd

EE

     

 

 

   

Normal

low

AA

--

--

DD

EE

Normal

low

AA

--

--

DD

Ee

Normal

low

AA

--

--

DD

ee

Normal

low

AA

--

--

Dd

EE

Normal

low

AA

--

--

Dd

Ee

Normal

low

AA

--

--

Dd

ee