Prospective breeders of Border Collies should be aware of the need for very careful selection of breeding animals to ensure that known carriers of CL, TNS, and CEA are not mated together. By DNA testing our dogs, we can make informed decisions before mating to ensure that one parent is 'clear/normal'.

Nothing will be achieved by pointing fingers, or condemning fellow breeders, when dogs are identified as carriers of CL or TNS,or affected with CEA. Instead, congratulate them on first testing, and then publicising, the results. These individuals are showing a responsible attitude and are helping to control hereditary diseases.

Dogs of good overall quality do not have to be removed from the gene pool if they are carriers, or CEA affected. They can be safely mated to DNA tested 'clear/normals'.

ALL Border Collies at Noteworthy are DNA tested, and results openly published.

• Border Collie Health Results ~ DNA Tested For CEA, CL & TNS

CL is a rare, FATAL, inherited disease that cannot be treated. It affects the nervous system including the brain.

DNA Research has identified the gene in Border Collies. By testing, and careful breeding, We will be able to eliminate the disease from the breed in one or two generations.

CL is a disease that affects the cells of the body, and in particular the nerve cells. CL is inherited by a simple recessive gene in the same way that coat colour is inherited. The disease will only manifest itself in dogs which have inherited the recessive gene from both parents. Other offspring of a litter containing an affected dog can either be carriers or clear.

CL is characterised by the accumulation of ceroid lipofuscin, a waxlike lipid waste product of cell metabolism. This substance accumulates in the tissue cells of the body. In the brain there is limited room for storage of waste products and, as an estimate, at somewhere between 18 and 22 months of age, sufficient waste product has accumulated to begin compressing and destroying healthy brain cells. At this time the dogs display changes in behaviour, deteriorate rapidly and are usually euthanased. Confirmation of the disease is performed by brain biopsy. This can also be used to identify affected pups at approximately 7 months of age.

For More Information on CL Please Visit.....

• Optigen


• The Border Collie Club of Victoria


• Border Collie Club of Queensland, Inc ~ Known CL Pedigrees

TNS is a FATAL disease recognised in Border Collies about 8 years ago in New Zealand and Australia. There have been known cases in the USA.

Puppies aged between 6 weeks and 7 months have a range of symptoms including lameness, chronic diarrhea, fevers and loss of appetite. The pups also have persistent bone and gastrointestinal infections. It was previously thought the symptoms were the result of an allergic reaction to first vaccinations.

The bone marrow of the affected dogs identifies that neutrophils are not released into the circulation. Consequently, the bone marrow becomes clogged with neutrophils - a state called myelokathexis.

In 2006, Dr Alan Wilton, Canine Research, University of New South Wales, Australia, identified the gene responsible for this fatal disease. At least 15 affected litters have been reported, and it is suspected that a large number have gone unreported. Dr Wilton is currently doing research DNA testing on dogs from pedigrees where TNS is suspected. Hopefully the test will 'go public' later in 2007.

For More Information On TNS, Please Visit....

• Border Collie Club of Victoria
• Border Collie Club of Queensland

CEA refers to an inherited abnormality in the development of the retina, optic nerve and choroid. These are all structures at the back of the eye involved with vision. CEA is a multigenetic trait, is present at birth and does not change with age. It is strongly recommended that puppies 6 to 8 weeks are tested for CEA by a specialist eye vet (ophthalmologist). There are varying degrees of abnormality with CEA. It can affect one eye or both; from a mild case where vision may be reduced, to severe CEA with retinal detachment and total loss of vision.

CEA is more technically known as Choroidal Hypoplasia (CH). It is a recessively inherited eye disorder that causes abnormal development of the choroid - an important layer of tissue under the retina of the eye. Since the choroid layer does not develop normally from the start, the primary abnormality can be diagnosed at a very young age. Regrettably, there is no treatment or cure for CEA.

Once the retina changes to its adult color around 3 months of age, the normal pigment sometimes masks the changes in the choroid (so-called “go normal”).

In mildly affected dogs, choroidal thinning is the only detectable abnormality and the dog retains normal vision throughout life. If the case is extremely mild, it may not be seen in a physical examination. Only a DNA test for CEA will reveal the true status.

An 'affected' dog will never produce CEA/CH as long as he/she is breed to a DNA tested 'normal' dog. They will produce 'carriers'. To produce affected offspring, both parents must either be carriers or affected.

For More Information On CEA, Please Visit....

• Optigen