Recently the ANKC conducted a survey to ascertain the opinion of registered Border Collie owners as to whether they considered Ceroid Lipofucinosis, Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome and Collie Eye Anomaly to be problems in the breed.

The response received has indicated overwhelming support for the following:

1.1 Ceroid Lipofusinosis be designated a controlled disease in the breed, requiring breeders to establish the DNA status of all breeding stock born after 1st January 2005 for Ceroid Lipofucinosis by testing or by parentage.

1.2 Litter Registration Limitations should apply for litters born from 1 January 2011 as follows:

• At least one parent of every litter must be DNA Normal for CL by testing or by parentage.
• No CL DNA Affected animals are to be bred from.
• Acceptable matings are CL DNA Normal/Normal or Normal/Carrier where both parents are born after 1.1.2005.

2.1 Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome be designated a controlled disease in the breed, requiring breeders to establish the DNA status of all breeding stock born after 1st January 2005 for Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome by testing or by parentage.

2.2 Litter Registration Limitations should apply for litters born from 1 January 2011 as follows:

• At least one parent of every litter must be DNA Normal for TNS by testing or by parentage.
• No TNS DNA Affected animals are to be bred from.
• Acceptable matings are TNS DNA Normal/Normal or Normal/Carrier where both parents are born after 1.1.2005.

3.1 Collie Eye Anomaly be designated as a controlled condition in the breed, requiring breeders to establish the DNA status of all breeding stock born after 1st January 2005 for Collie Eye Anomaly by testing or by parentage.

3.2 Litter Registration Limitations should apply for litters born from 1 January 2011 as follows:

• At least one parent of every litter must be DNA Normal for CEA by testing or by parentage.
• Acceptable matings are CEA DNA Normal/Normal,  Normal/Carrier or Normal/Affected where both parents are born after 1.1.2005.

Effective from 1 January, 2011 breeders of litters whelped on or after this date will be required to comply as a prerequisite to registration of any litter.  Any parent whelped before 1 January 2005 is excepted.  Dogs must be positively identified, preferably by microchip, prior to being tested.

The Genotype for each condition may be determined by DNA testing or by parentage. All progeny from a DNA Normal to Normal mating for each condition/disease will be DNA normal. For CEA all progeny from a Normal to Affected mating will be DNA carriers. To be declared Normal by parentage for any of the three conditions, the DNA genotype Normal of the parents will have to be recorded on the ANKC database. Official results submitted to the database will only be accepted where the DNA sample sent for testing is from a micro chipped animal and was taken and identified by an authorised collector (eg: vet, breed club official). At this stage, further DNA testing or profiling to verify parentage will not be required but breeders are reminded that a litter registration application is a legal document.  A majority of registered owners within the breed and responding to this survey must be in favour before approval is given by the ANKC.   Each of the above six items will be considered separately

Dr Karen Hedberg
ANKC Canine Health & Welfare Committee