Bandera's Neonatal Ataxia Health Testing Fund
June 2011
The American Coton Club has created a Health Testing Fund for Bandera's Neonatal Ataxia (BNAt) DNA testing of the rare breed Coton de Tulear. The American Coton Club will donate $2000 for DNA testing at the University of Missouri where researchers have found the mutation for BNAt, also called "Bandera's syndrome".
The ACC Bandera's Neonatal Ataxia Health Testing Fund is for ACC Code of Ethics Breeders who choose to DNA test their breeding Cotons. The ACC will donate $20 per Coton de Tulear tested for "Bandera's syndrome", up to three (3) Cotons per ACC COE Breeder. The ACC Bandera's Neonatal Ataxia Health Testing Fund will be for Cotons tested from May 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011. The American Coton Club hopes that this incentive to submit DNA samples to the University of Missouri will help prevent any carriers from being bred to other carriers of this mutation.
Coton puppies affected by Bandera's Neonatal Ataxia never gain the ability to ambulate normally. The University of Missouri discovered a gene mutation in the cerebellum of affected puppies in 2010. DNA testing of breeding Cotons enables breeders to breed safely and ensure no affected puppy is ever produced.
Bandera's Neonatal Ataxia, called "Bandera's syndrome" for the second Coton puppy diagnosed with the disease, is a self limiting condition. This is a disease of the cerebellum and affected puppies cannot coordinate their movements. The puppies affected by BNAt would never be well enough to leave a breeders home so there is no risk that an affected puppy would ever be sold to a companion family.
There have been no known adult Cotons affected with Bandera's Neonatal Ataxia.
It is critical to identify the carriers before they are bred to one another. Carriers can safely be bred to Clear Cotons with no risk of producing any affected puppies. DNA testing is the key to wiping out this disease.
Veterinary researchers at the University of Missouri studied Coton puppies affected by Bandera's Neonatal Ataxia and in 2010 announced the discovery of the mutation causing BNAt in affected Coton puppies. The BNAt DNA test will help breeders identify carrier and clear Cotons within the gene pool.
Affected puppies are tested at no charge.
Please support this research by DNA testing your breeding Cotons.
The DNA test for Bandera's Neonatal Ataxia is $65 and can be done via a blood draw at your veterinarians office.
Instructions for submitting blood samples can be found on the University of Missouri web site as well as the links below and on the ACC DNA Tests web page.
Testing in North America
Testing in Europe
Links
University of Missouri- 2011 BNAt Information
University of Missouri- 2010 BNAt Information
2011 Bandera's Neonatal Ataxia Study
2002 Bandera's Neonatal Ataxia Study