Re: Multifocal Retinal Dysplasia

At our Open Show on the 15 July 2001 we held our annual Eye Testing Clinic with Professor Peter Bedford.

Professor Bedford tests our Breed for Generalised Progressive Retinal Atrophy because the Breed is on the BVA/KC Eye Scheme list of Conditions Under Investigation, he also checks for Entropion and VKH.

After testing was completed Professor Bedford advised me in my capacity as Chairman that he had observed an increase in our Breed of the above-mentioned condition MRD. The condition is a Linear folding of the sensory retina that I understood to be a blind spot and should the dog develop sufficient of these it could lead to blindness.

A copy of your test certificate is sent to the BVA and due to the increase in MRD being observed Professor Bedford indicated that the Breed could be put on the Conditions Under Investigation list for MRD. There are six other Breeds currently certified under the BVA/KC eye scheme for this condition.

Professor Bedford informed me that he had spoken with each owner of the effected Akitas and suggested they did not breed from these until they had been tested again in twelve months time to see if there had been any deterioration in the condition. It should be noted that it is not known at this point in time what the mode of inheritance is.

During the past week on one of the Akita Internet lists it was made known that a UK Akita had been observed to have MRD some fifteen years a go, the responsible owners had this Akita tested annually until late in its life which showed no deterioration. This does not mean we should become complacent about this condition but take on board the details that have been made available.

It should be noted that this mail shot is intended to be an awareness exercise and not a tool to be used to bring about unnecessary persecutions.

Regards

Mike Window

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