Stargardt disease is an inherited retinal degenerative disease that leads to visual impairment and blindness in both human and dogs. Photoreceptors are light-sensing cells found in the retina of the eye. There are two types of photoreceptors: rods and cones. Both rods and cones work together to detect light and convert it into electrical signals, which are then “seen” by the brain. Rods are found in the outer retina and help us see in dim and dark lighting. Cones are found in the macula, which is the part of the retina at the back of the eye and help us see fine visual detail and colour. In Stargardt disease both cones and rods degenerate, but for unclear reasons, cones are more strongly affected in most cases.
Although affected dogs often develop stargard disease symptoms before the age of ten, significant clinical signs appear late in life when affected dogs presenting with noticeable visual impairment around 10 years of age. Dogs that are affected by Stargardt disease don’t usually go completely blind, but retain some degree of vision.
The mutation responsible for Stargardt disease in Labrador retriever has been identified by researchers at The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, it is a mutation in the ABCA4 gene and a test is now available at Laboklin. The test will help in breeding healthy dogs.
