Has anyone heard of a condition in Border Collies noted as CL? Apparently their is now a DNA test available for it. Don't know if it is something we should be looking for but apparently the dog all of a sudden just goes a bit crazy and can't be given commands or doesn't respond normally and is something like mad cow disease in cattle. I have never heard of a Koolie acting this way, if anyone has I would like to know anything about it. Thanks

Some more information, available from the website of GTG, who are the company so kindly helping us with our DNA testing program, regarding CL in Border Collies:

Hereditary Disease in Border Collies


Through our animal division, we now offer a genetic test for the inherited brain disease, Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL) in Border Collies - for both the Australian and overseas lines. This disease, often referred to as CL, is often fatal in Border Collies and presents in young dogs as confusion, unpredictability and an inability to walk and see properly.

As stated in our disease report, our CL test detects the presence (or absence) of the bp 619 C to T mutation in exon 4 of the canine Cln5 gene - based on the Genbank entry made by the University of New South Wales’ canine geneticist, Scott Melville. Accordingly, Border Collies may be classified as Clear (C/C), Carrier (C/T) or Affected (T/T).

As recently as February 2005, the University of New South Wales issued a media release which quoted, "Fortunately, the single mutation in Border Collies will be easy to test for.”. This discovery was the result of some 10 years of research. We have no scientific evidence to date to imply that other possible mutations may be responsible for CL. It would be an easy matter to retest all Border Collies samples if any purported new CL mutations can be verified, as we have the samples in our database.

The test is conducted via either a simple buccal (mouth) swab, taken in conjunction with Positive ID by an authorized Collection Officer (as set out under the endorsed ANKC DNA program). Collection kits may be ordered online, or by calling (03) 8412 7077. All results are issued with a Disease Report and DNA Certificate (Profile). Please note that we can also test blood samples for equal accuracy if your preference is blood collection over a buccal swab - this choice is totally at your discretion.

As of 1 July 2005, the cost of the CL test will be AUD $52.50 per test, or AUD $90 per test if conducted in conjunction with a DNA profile. This includes a $10 levy to be donated towards further Border Collie research. The testing clearly has merit – our first batch of testing has already identified two CL carriers.

This DNA profiling is carried out using the most advanced canine markers in the world.

It is important to note:

As a recognised, leading service provider in the area of canine DNA testing, we at Genetic Technologies were contacted by a number of Australian Border Collie breeders seeking this test.

We decided to offer the test in the best interests of the industry, as it can eradicate a horrific and distressing hereditary disease.

We developed the test from information freely available in the public domain.

Although we have been advised that an application has been made for a provisional US patent, to the best of our knowledge, there is no issued patent and therefore we are free to offer and perform the test.

The Canine Research Foundation has advised that it provided $57,000 for the research into the identification of the cause of CL in Border Collies.

Our pricing for this test was designed to support the ANKC’s objective of having a widely available, low cost test. Given the level of this pricing, we would encourage all breeders to continue to support the research of the Border Collie Club and consider a donation.

Importantly, as the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) has monitored our development of this test, all CL tests conducted by Genetic Technologies will be recognised by the ANKC. Please see the comment below from Bob Maver, of the ANKC Canine Health Committee.

“On behalf of the ANKC, I have personally monitored Genetic Technologies’ testing protocols, procedures and results of their canine DNA testing. Their scientists and test methods are first class – as would be expected with a NATA-approved human DNA testing facility. The ANKC will recognise any and all canine DNA testing conducted by Genetic Technologies.”
Bob Maver, ANKC Canine Health Committee


This test is now available to us and because we know that over recent decades some cross breeding has been done I would urge anyone even slightly suspicious or the dogs behaviour to request a test be conducted, all results will be confidential, but it is very important that we know a problem such as this does exhist and we can work around it. Fortunately GTG have also made this test available to the Koolie Club of Australia cost free, for the time being. Contact me at ann.worboys@gmail.com if you would like to conduct the test.

If you have already submitted your DNA samples can you request that those samples be amended to include this test, I wish to clear my line of everything if possible.

Great Post!!!

Thanks for the information.....

I am going to send my request for this testing as well to you via email. Let me know if there is anything I need to do on my end. Also, if there are fees involved let me know and I will make arrangements for you.

Keep up the great work. We need folks like you out there helping look for the potential pitfalls. We all want to do what we can to protect our dogs from possible genetic disorders.

Karolina Koolies

Howdy guys
Just a little info about the cl in BCs Im not into breeding of the coolies but I would say from years ago there may be border collies and kelpies been bred in them No offence dont want to upset anybody so it could be in lines with the coolie having that kind of back ground so they may have cl and hip displaysia and the eye disease cea I think its called should get my book than I can get the right terminology. I just think it would be a good idea to test so that we dont have them in this breed if someone has it. My border collie sister had cl that I nearly ended up with.The border collie was a present to my mum and she ended up loving Inka and a friend ended up with this BC called Nessie and she had an absolutely a terrible death it was distressing for both the dog my friend and her husband and my breeder who incidently was a friend of mine as well. Another friend had helped her with this breeding and they dont know where it came from my breeder got the mum desexed and went to a pet home the father was desexed and sent to a pet home and where the breeder got her dog from she had any dog that was conected to this bitch desexed and sent to a pet home. We had sent in blood from all of the puppies the mum dad and 3 generation and that is what I believe had helped them to find the gene. which is good news I just dont want to see another dog going threw with what poor little Nessie went it was distressing. My friend who owned this dog actually did a story about what the syptoms and what happened in the last 18 months of her life . I think it could be in the border collie info where they named the dogs who have had them if I can find it Ill write it down. I hope I have not upset anybody I just think that it could be in the working breeds.
cheers
Danni

Hi Danni
Thanks for that information, I hadn't heard any information just what the disease created but it sounds like something that we will really need to be stringent about. How terrible for everyone involved, we will do our best to get as many dogs tested as we can so we are aware of where we stand. Because GTG are being so generous in their testing we have also given them the go ahead to run any new tests they develop, for them it means they have access to a fairly large gene poole to run tests on immediately and for us we get up to date information on what we are or are not dealing with. Unfortunately because GTG are working on so many new and diverse projects at once and we are not paying customers, it is very difficult to get results from them. They are great scientists but their admin is swamped.

Hi Dannimilo

Thankyou for sending me the story of Nessie, how distressing it must have been for all involved. Thank goodness the DNA test is now available and I hope it is something BC breeders are taking up straight away.
You are right, over the years here and there the occassional BC has been bred into koolies, so it is relevant to us and needs to be monitored.
I have spoken to GTG and they will be running CL tests over at least the majority of our dogs as well as the Ivermectin resistant test which is also a collie based problem. Samples we sent to America a few years ago for the development of the Ivermectin test all tested clear, so hopefully the rest will be the same.

We will hopefully shortly add a new page to the website on DNA, where all information will be posted (not individual results but percentages or number of) and what options a breeder should consider and what the club's stand is on the use of dogs that may have a result. DNA will become a very important tool for our breeders and breed.

DNA is the only true safe option we all should consider.
I discovered my red bloodline produced Junior renal failure.
All that bloodline was tested but the tests could only verify if the Koolie was affected, not if it was a carrier.
For Renal failure to appear the gene must be carried by both parents.
I got my male from Qld and the female from Vic unrelated.
The first litter produced one male pup with renal failure, after extensive tests the vets diagnosed that it was JRF and we lost him at 9 months.
We were told by the specialist that it was a once of and could happen in any breed.
2 years later the second litter produced three male pups with JRF.
2 died at nine months, we have since learned this is around the time the kidneys normally fail and one male lived until he was fifteen months.
We now know through the help of GTG that JRF is an inherited disease and the original parents have been desexed.
As yet there is no screening test available due to lack of available DNA, most breeders either don't know the cause of death or hide the fact.
We have sent DNA of every pup, including the adult carries to GTG and hopefully a screening test is not far away.
I erg other breeders if they have lost pups in the past around nine months to read our article and vets findings under Toshies story here on the forum.
GTG needs DNA to effectively combat this disease.
A dog carrier does not need to be desexed only bred to a non carrier, this will effectively breed the problem out of existence.
With a screen test we will be able to locate and notify breeders who own carriers and they will then be able to avoid the problem.
Currently the only thing available is desexing, but it does not stop the problem, any Koolie or breed can be a carrier, this disease is a canine disease.