GR_PRA1 test  for Golden Retrievers

January, 28, 2011

A research team at the Animal Health Trust in the UK and the Swedish University in Upsaala have recently identified a mutation, GR_PRA1, that causes Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) in the golden retriever. OptiGen had previously identified another form of PRA caused by the prcd mutation in this breed. With the aid of the new GR_PRA1 DNA test, the cause of the majority of PRA cases in the golden retriever can now be explained. Unfortunately, there are still a few cases of PRA in the golden retriever that are not caused by either of the known mutations. These cases will continue to be a subject of ongoing PRA research.  If you know of any PRA-affected golden retrievers, please encourage the owners to contact OptiGen to learn about our Free PRA Testing/Research program : (http://www.optigen.com/opt9_research.html)

Current statistics on the incidence of GR_PRA1 indicate that the disease is primarily of concern in European lines of golden retriever however we have confirmed that GR_PRA1 is the cause of some of the PRA-affected in golden retrievers that have been sent to OptiGen for research from Canada and the USA. OptiGen will be happy to provide the Golden Retriever Club health committees with regular updates of the statistics on the incidence of PRA, both prcd and GR_PRA1, as more dogs are tested.

Similar but completely unrelated to prcd, GR_PRA1 is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. This means that GR_PRA1 disease will occur only if two copies of the mutation are present; carriers of one copy of the mutation do not show disease.  By ensuring that at least one parent is Normal/Clear of GR_PRA1 then no GR_PRA1 affected offspring will be produced in a mating.  See the chart below for expected breeding outcomes when the GR_PRA1 status (Genotype) has been determined by DNA testing.