Working Results 2016

Date	Test
26.6.16	Sussex Spaniel Association Working Assessment Test
15.5.16	SEWSSC Working Assessment
7.5.16	The Working Minority Breeds Spaniel Club

The Clumber Spaniel Club and the Working Clumber Spaniel Society are aware that a number of Clumber Spaniels that have been screened by Embark in the USA have been identified as carriers for PRA with a limited few being found to be “At Risk”; Embark states that “Testing positive (AT RISK) is predictive of a dog being affected by the condition, but it is not a ﬁnal diagnosis nor does it predict when symptoms may occur or the severity of a condition in a dog.”
Initially it was understood that only carriers were being identified and advice was sought from the Kennel Club, the British Veterinary Association and the Animal Health Trust and as there had never been a recorded case of PRA in the UK for Clumbers it was thought that although we may find a high level of carriers with the faulty gene, either the gene that is identified did lead to PRA in Clumbers or they have something else that keeps them from developing it.

Since then a single 12 year old dog has been confirmed as clinically affected with PRA and a DNA sample is being tested by the AHT. We now have a small number of Clumbers being identified as “At Risk” but not yet clinically affected.
The PRA mutation that has been found is the RPGRIP1 variant that was first identified in Dachshunds by the AHT and has since been noted in English Springer Spaniels. A dog would need to inherit two copies of the faulty gene to be at risk of developing this form of PRA. It is known to lead to blindness in older dogs and at this stage the indicators are that it will prove to be a late onset condition.
The AHT are working closely with the Breed to further investigate this condition and to develop a validated DNA test as quickly as possible. Additional information will be circulated as soon as it is available.
The Clumber Spaniel Club has a project to investigate eye health in older Clumber Spaniels which includes checking for any late onset conditions. This project subsidises free eye tests for Clumbers aged 8 years and over and owners of older dogs are urged to participate as this could also help in our understanding of PRA in the Breed.
If you require further information then please contact:
Carol Page on 01489 589734 / carolpage@micklemess.net