Quick Summary
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Phenotype: Affected puppies suffer from chronic infections resulting from a compromised immune system, are often smaller than their littermates and have developmental delays. Additionally, a narrow elongated skull and slender extremities have been observed in some affected dogs. Affected individuals can have infections from as early as 6 weeks of age, while a few may have mild clinical signs that are not observed until age 2 or older.
Mode of Inheritance: Autosomal recessive
Alleles: N = Normal, TNS = Trapped neutrophil syndrome
Breeds appropriate for testing: Border Collie
Explanation of Results:
- Dogs with N/N genotype will not have trapped neutrophil syndrome and cannot transmit this variant to their offspring.
- Dogs with N/TNS genotype will not be affected by trapped neutrophil syndrome, but are carriers. They may transmit this variant to 50% of their offspring. Matings between two carriers are predicted to produce 25% trapped neutrophil syndrome-affected puppies.
- Dogs with TNS/TNS genotype will have trapped neutrophil syndrome.
Results of this test can be submitted to the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals)
Border Collie Health Panel
$80 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
An inherited neutropenia (decrease in white blood cells) has been identified in Border Collies. This disease, called trapped neutrophil syndrome (TNS), has been found to be caused by a mutation in the Vesicle Protein Sorting 13B (VPS13B) gene. Affected puppies suffer from chronic infections resulting from a compromised immune system, are often smaller than their littermates and have developmental delays. Additionally, a narrow elongated skull and slender extremities have been observed in some affected dogs. Affected individuals can have infections from as early as 6 weeks of age, while a few may have mild clinical signs that are not observed until age 2 or older. TNS is inherited as an autosomal recessive disease, thus both sexes are equally affected and 2 copies of the defective allele are required to produce the disease. The defective allele has been observed at a rate of 7-8% worldwide in Border Collies.