Quick Summary
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Phenotype: Leukoencephalomyelopathy (LEMP) is characterized by a generalized, progressive loss of balance with increasing immobility. Signs of LEMP often appear prior to 1 year of age, typically presenting as gait abnormalities including dragging of paws and knuckling.
Mode of Inheritance: Autosomal recessive
Alleles: N = Normal, LEMP = Leukoencephalomyelopathy
Breeds appropriate for testing: Rottweiler, Great Dane
Explanation of Results:
- Dogs with N/N genotype will not have leukoencephalomyelopathy and cannot transmit this leukoencephalomyelopathy variant to their offspring.
- Dogs with N/LEMP genotype will not have leukoencephalomyelopathy, but are carriers. They will transmit this LEMP variant to 50% of their offspring. Matings between two carriers are predicted to produce 25% leukoencephalomyelopathy-affected puppies.
- Dogs with LEMP/LEMP genotype will have leukoencephalomyelopathy, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
Results of this test can be submitted to the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals)
Rottweiler Health Panel
$130 per animal
Sample Collection
Dog DNA tests are carried out using cells brushed from your dog's cheeks and gums. The preferred cytology brushes are sent to you by mail, or you may provide your own brushes. For accepted alternative brushes, click here
We recommend waiting until puppies are at least three weeks old before testing.
Step-By-Step:
- Make sure the dog has not had anything to eat or drink for at least 1 hour prior to collecting sample.
- When swabbing puppies, isolate each puppy from the mother, littermates and any shared toys for 1 hour prior to swabbing. Puppies should not have nursed or eaten for 1 hour prior to collecting sample.
- If collecting samples from more than one dog, make sure to sample one dog at a time and wash your hands before swabbing another dog.
- Label brush sleeve with name or ID of dog to be sampled.
- Open brush sleeve by arrow and remove one brush by its handle.
- Place bristle head between the dog’s gums and cheek and press lightly on the outside of the cheek while rubbing or rotating the brush back and forth for 15 seconds.
- Wave the brush in the air for 20 seconds to air dry.
- Insert brush back into sleeve.
- Repeat steps 5 - 8 for each unused brush in sleeve on a fresh area of cheek and gums. Make sure to use and return all brushes sent by the VGL. In most cases, it will be 3 brushes per dog. If using interdental gum brushes, please note that the VGL requires 4 brushes per dog and only moderate or wide interdental gum brushes are accepted.
- Do not seal brushes in sleeve.
- Place all samples in an envelope and return to the address provided.
ATTENTION:
- Do not collect saliva/drool – the key to obtaining a good sample is getting cheek cells on the swab
- Do not rub swab on the dog’s tongue or teeth – this will result in poor quality sample
- Do not collect a sample from a puppy that has recently nursed – the mother’s genetic material can rub off on the puppy’s mouth and contaminate the sample
Leukoencephalomyelopathy (LEMP) is a neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system. LEMP is characterized by a generalized, progressive loss of balance with increasing immobility. Signs of LEMP often appear prior to 1 year of age, typically presenting as gait abnormalities including dragging of paws and knuckling. The disease is progressive, moving from front to back limbs but is not associated with pain.
LEMP in Rottweiler dogs results from an insertion of one base in the NAPEPLD gene (c.345_346insC), reported here as LEMP. The disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion, which means that males and females are equally affected and that two copies of the defective gene are needed to cause LEMP. Dogs with one normal and one affected gene (carriers) are normal and show no signs of the disease. This variant is also present in Great Danes, therefore testing for this breed is advisable.
Testing for the mutation associated with LEMP in Rottweiler and Great Dane breeds assists clinicians with diagnosis of LEMP and helps breeders identify carriers among breeding stock to avoid producing affected dogs. Matings between carriers are expected to produce 25% of affected puppies.