Important news on Congenital Cataracts and Microphthalmia in the Ibizan Hound

A letter from IHCUS Health and Research Committee Chair, Katie Belz DVM...

November 11, 2008
Katie Belz DVM
IHCUS Health and Research Committee Chair
3280 Vickers Switch Rd
Christiansburg, VA 24073
KamarIbizans@hotmail.com

Dear IHCUS Members and Ibizan breeders ,

It is my duty as Health and Research Chair to inform IHCUS members and Ibizan breeders worldwide of a hereditary eye condition that has been found in a recently bred litter that will have a substantial influence on many Ibizan breeding programs not only in the United States, but aboard as well. In October 2008, 5 Ibizan puppies out of CH Ferran De El Pollet and CH Juerga De Can Poca Roba were examined at the Inherited Eye Diseases Clinic at the School of Veterinary Medicine University of Pennsylvania led by an internationally recognized ophthalmologist whose clinical and research work has been instrumental in controlling the major inherited eye diseases of dogs. He and his research group have developed most of the DNA-based tests that are currently available to specifically determine the affected, carrier or normal status of dogs with inherited eye diseases. Three of the 5 puppies were found to have varying degrees of microphthalmia and congenital cataracts. These cataracts are so severe that complete examination of the retina was impossible at this initial evaluation, and sadly the puppies are mostly blind. The diagnosis sheet is attached. The complete extent and characterization of the eye abnormalities was not possible at this initial visit and a re-evaluation is scheduled for December 2008. Thus specifics about these puppies condition won’t be addressed until after the re-evaluation visit.
What we can say at this time is the current diagnosis of congenital cataracts and microphthalmia are known to be autosomal recessive in inheritance. This explains why both sire and dam have CERF numbers and normal eyes. For those with knowledge of simple mendalion genetics, it becomes obvious that both Ferran and Fresca are asymptomatic carriers and should never be bred again because they will only produce and expand the asymptomatic carrier pool. For those breeders without knowledge of genetics, I strongly urge you to take an active role in understanding them as it will help you to understand the basis of, and accept the future breeding recommendations that will be mentioned in this letter and expanded on in my letter to follow as well as the Third eye.


Pedigree of Affected Litter:

Above is the pedigree of this litter. The pedigree is linebred on two well known influential Spanish Ibizans, Floquet and Flora. Linebreeding has the advantage of concentrating favorable characteristics, in addition to unveiling those characteristics that are not favorable, such as genetic disease. To my knowledge, this is the first linebreeding on PocaRoba dogs outside of Spain that have been evaluated by a board certified ophthalmologist. No other Spanish dogs have been reported with this condition. To my knowledge, it hasn’t been present in past Poca Roba litters although health testing, including ophthalmic evaluation, is not performed on those dogs to my knowledge.
If anyone knows of other Ibizans with congenital cataracts and/or microphthalmia in either Spanish bred or American bred dogs I urge you to please contact me. If Floquet and Flora are truly not affected then either one of them can be the carrier.

Finding who the carrier is is of utmost importance as it will enable us to potentially continue forward with certain lines of dogs that have been bred down from ANY import with Floquet OR Flora in their pedigree.
Ideally, to completely eliminate all potential carriers and stop this genetic disease, ALL dogs with ANY Floquet or Flora in their pedigree should be removed from the breeding population. Those with pedigree knowledge and those who keep up with the breedings in the US and aboard, will realize that if those recommendations were taken to heart, approximately ½ of the Ibizan population will be eliminated from the breeding population. This would be a devastating blow to an already meager population. Thus, in an attempt to save as much genetic diversity as possible, it becomes vital to determine which one is the carrier (Floquet or Flora). This will be possible through a few select breedings and possible test breedings that I will expand on in a future letter.
Although not every Ibizan line is directly affected by these findings, every Ibizan breeder should be concerned as they affect the breed as a whole. I’ve listed every breeding that I know of that has the possibility of having and producing carriers below. If you know of any other breeding from descendents of Floquet or Flora please contact me. I’ve listed names of dogs and their breeders as an illustration of the magnitude of this problem and as an invitation to band together, help the IHCUS Health and Research committee, to find were this devastating condition is coming from and how best to control it and hopefully, eventually, eliminate it.
 

List of potential congenital cataracts and microopthalmia carriers and their breedings:
**DC Homer De Can Poca Roba;
CH Bramblewoods DeJavue Forthcoming: Rose Bednarski
DC Elida’s Speck of Miles- Kathy Kelly
**DC Kok-Rapid De Can Poca Roba
CH Imagery: Fire Dance - Bonnie Fleming
CH Jemm’s Exquisite Ana Alisian – Alisa Barbour
**CH Rosita De Can Poca Roba
CH Wirtu Norcal Dude in Edan- Judy Parker
**CH Rumba De Can Poca Roba
CH Bramblewood’s Round of Appaws: Robin Castillo
**CH Rumbero De Can Poca Roba
CH Bramblewood’s American Idol- Judy Parker
**Flanders De Can Poca Roba
Bramblewoods Icycold Elegance – Dr. Karen Katt
**CH Juerga De Can Poca Roba-
Amberlithe Caprecio Uno- Teddy Burke
CH Ferran De Can Poca Roba- Teddy Burke
**Blaia De El Pollet-
Amberlithe Caprecio Uno- Teddy Burke
**CH Ferran De El Pollet-
CH Juerga De Can Poca Roba- Teddy Burke
CH Wirtu Norcal Dude In Eden:
CH Eden’s Magic Trick- Stephanie Bonner
CH Wishsong Na Mho Ringhan- Roberta Hozempa
CH Elida’s Gem In Eden- Kathy Kelly
CH Rosita De Can Poca Roba- Judy Parker
CH Dejavue Where No One’s Gone Before
DC Gryphon’s Dark Victory- Rose Bednarski
Dejavue Touch Me All Over Again-
Davinci Nahala Chaos Reigns- Julie Morris
DC Orion’s XXX of Eden
DC Ahram’s Shadia of SunRich- Janelle Richy
DC Wirtu’s Spanish Tantivey- Kathy Kelly
CH Bramblewood’s Nor’Wester At BoDeans
CH Special Acres’ of Malachite- Lynna Campbell
CH Ruby’s Lil Angel In Eden- Dean O’Neal
CH Wirtu’s Lord Of the Ring RL
DC Special Acres’ Clown Princess– Irva McDougald, Mary Pyle, & Susan Short
CH Mystickal Maats Magick- Ed Kimble
CH Icycold Nickeroos First Star:
CH Lykan’s Red Moon Rising- Nicole Granville
 

One of the purposes of the Health and Research committee is to be a common place were Ibizan owners and breeders can ask advice or be open with health concerns. Please, everyone lets be part of the solution and work together. I’m always open to questions and concerns. If you know of or have a dog with cataracts, in the US or aboard, please let me know.
Once I have more information I will let you know. In the meantime, on expansion of the recommendation of the genetic ophthalmology department at the University of Pennsylvania the current recommendations are:
i) Do not breed any Spanish import with Flora or Floquet present in their pedigree, until further notice. Especially, those Spanish imports who are direct descendents of Floquet and/or Flora. Dogs with this recommended restriction are designated with ( **) above.
ii) CERF test EVERY Spanish import and all of their offspring. Although, they will most likely have normal CERFs, it is important for pedigree analysis to document this or ANY abnormalities, even those incidental, minor and insignificant findings. Please have these CERF forms copied and sent to the Health and Research Chair as documentation.
iii) For those with 2nd and 3rd generation from Spanish import breedings with Floquet or Flora, I urge you to postpone your breeding plans if possible. If not, all breeding rights must be controlled by you and this should be expressed in your contract. Every breeding performed with these dogs has the potential to produce more asymptomatic carriers.
I urge everyone to abide by these current recommendations. Autosomal recessive abnormalities are not going to disappear if you continue to “outcross”. Every puppy from a breeding of a potential carrier (from the litters listed above and other litters from Flora or Floquet offspring) has a 50% chance of being an asymptomatic carrier. Thus breeding these dogs might result in normal CERFs but carriers that are continuing to produce more carriers. If these recommendations are ignored, we most likely won’t see this disease in the near future BUT in 10-15 years there is a real chance we will see numerous blind liters once you are no longer able to “outcross” and have to breed back to related descendents. Unfortunately, importation of European dogs won’t resolve this problem as many breedings over the past 10 years have incorporated Floquet and/or Flora.
Once more information is known, individual pedigrees can be discussed and depending on the situation and dog, test breedings may be offered in the future. If you or your veterinarian have any questions, concerns or more information on other dogs or the litters listed above feel free to contact me directly.
More information regarding congenital cataracts, microphthalmia and autosomal recessive traits will be published in the upcoming Third Eye if not before. After the December 2008 evaluation of these puppies IHCUS will be able to make more complete and specific breeding recommendations.
Until next time--
Sincerely,

Katie Belz DVM
Chair, Health and Research Committee
And the IHCUS H& R Committee

Katie M. Belz DVMKamar Ibizans http://www.KamarIbizans.com