Recent scientific discoveries make it possible to determine whether a dog is disease-free, a healthy carrier, or affected by a disease, based on the presence or absence of a specific mutation on one or two alleles of the gene concerned.
This is why the Central Canine Society (SCC), in conjunction with breed clubs, recommends screening for certain hereditary diseases in breeders.
Here are the conditions tested:
• Degenerative myelopathy type A (DM): neurological disease affecting the spinal cord, transmitted by mutation of the SOD1 gene.
• Hyperuricosuria (HUU): metabolic disease predisposing to urinary stones.
• X-linked ectodermal dysplasia (XHED): a disease affecting the skin and coat, with specific sex-linked inheritance.
• Rare disorders under surveillance such as mucopolysaccharidosis VII, hemophilia A or Scott syndrome.
– MPS-VII (mucopolysaccharidosis VII): a rare genetic disease affecting metabolism, leading to the accumulation of complex sugars in cells, causing skeletal, cardiac and neurological disorders in dogs.
– HEMA-1 and HEMA-2 (hemophilia A): inherited blood clotting disorders linked to the X chromosome, causing prolonged bleeding even after minor injuries.
– CSS (Scott syndrome): genetic disease of the immune system characterized by an abnormality in platelet adhesion, leading to coagulation disorders similar to those observed in hemophilia.
Impact on reproduction
A dog's genetic status has important consequences on mating choices:
• An unaffected dog can be bred without restriction- 1.1 or NN.
• A healthy carrier dog (heterozygous for a recessive mutation) can be bred, but only with an unaffected dog to avoid producing diseased puppies. 1.2 or NM
• An affected dog (homozygous mutated) should not be used for breeding as part of a responsible selection policy. – 2.2 or MM
Transmission of genetic diseases to offspring through mating
This system allows for the gradual elimination of deleterious mutations while preserving the genetic diversity of breeds.
