i am trying to find out about genetic tests (screening for inherited problems) & what is available to breeders, even if it has to be done  at great expense. If anyone can suggest a service/programme or lab I would be grateful

If it's for a particlar breeds then one of the breed clubs might have a gentics person who you can talk to.  Other then that you missed out on a gentics all breeds talk that was done last year!BUt thats no good to you!!! :)

If you want it generally then the...oh god don't know what it's called now...the people who deal with all the gentics and DNA...

Oh wait AHT (Animal health trust)??????  Might do seminars or might now where you can look for seminars!

Try www.aht.org.uk

Dawn R.

thanks, will try AHT. Dont actually want a seminar.....i want to find out about getting stock genetically tested.

Hi Sam, I'm sure you know, different breeds are affected by different genetic problems, so we might be able to offer more help if we knew what breed you were talking about.

Dawn R.

Again your breed club will be able to tell you what is avalible for your breed.  I can tell you that DNA for vWD and CLAD are avalible for IRWS and we are rasing money at current for PPC Genetics DNA! :) 

I might be wrong but someone has to start the DNA testing by gettig money together and then producing the AHT with data for them to research.  If their is a problem in the breed then the breed club(s) will normally fund the money along with the kennel club health.  I might be wrong but this is just my experiance!

thanks. I am fully aware of what our breedclub does being ex committee member & very involved. however this is a general condition that many breeds are prone to, I am trying to find out about & I am just trying to see if any organisations, perhaps private, can offer a test, thats all.

The AHT are very good Sam. There is a chap there called Nigel who I have spoken with in the past and he was very knowledgeable. I think if a particular test is avaliable for one breed I am sure you can have this test done. You are paying for it after all.

Hi Sam

The USA Optigen lab does several tests  http://www.optigen.com/opt_page.taf?page=test
and the Canadian (I think) Healthgene http://www.healthgene.com/vet/gen_sa.asp

and these are the UK ones http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/health_issues/health_issues_frameset.asp

I think there are others, an Australian lab maybe has started commercial testing.

Julie

I've now found the oz one http://members.ozemail.com.au/~gentest/services.html

Sam, if any of these labs have the test you are looking for but not in your particular breed, they would probably be willing to run your dog through a test (for a fee of course) to see if it does carry the mutation that they have a test for.  Some conditions are the same throughout breeds so one gene test can be used on all but there are others like PRA that has several different forms.

If it came back with a negative, it wouldn't help much as your dog could still carry the condition just not that particular gene that was tested for, but if did show positive, at least you would know and the lab may then be interested in developing the test for your breed.

Julie

Hi Sam

I realise it is unlikely but if it is for vWD then you are welcome to contact me