We are taking a summer break from December 21 to January. You can still place orders now and while we are on break. If we we receive but don't finish testing your samples before Christmas they will be at the top of our list when we re-open in January. Samples that arrive during the break will be stored carefully for testing in January.
Thanks for all the testing you've sent us this year, and have a wonderful summer!
Cerebellar abiotrophy marker (VMP1) (CA VMP1)
Summary
Cerebellar abiotrophy (CA) has been reported in working Kelpies. Dogs affected by CA can show head or neck tremors, problems with their balance, exaggerated or erratic leg movement and problems eating or drinking from a bowl.
This test (CA: VMP1) is associated with a form of CA that first appears in young dogs rather than pups.
A positive result for this test (A A) is a strong guide that your dog has or will develop CA. In the original study, 8 of 13 dogs with later-onset CA had an A A result for this marker, while none of the healthy dogs showed the same A A result.
Other possible results for this test are A C or C C. Dogs with an A C result do not have a high risk of CA but can potentially produce A A pups.
This form of CA has been found in border collies as well as Kelpies.
Gene or region and technical reference
Gene: VMP1 (marker). Reference: Pan. (2017) Thesis, Wade et al. (2022)
Reported alleles
C. Test developed using manufactured DNA, animal controls.
A. Test developed using manufactured DNA, animal cases.
Panels: groups of tests that are often ordered together
This test is in the Australian Kelpie panel.
This test is in the working dog CA panel.
This test is in the working dog core panel.
This form of CA has been diagnosed in dogs between 4 and 16 months old.
