Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA) in Australian Kelpie
Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA) is an inherited neurological disorder that affects the cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for coordination and balance. In affected dogs, nerve cells in the cerebellum degenerate prematurely, leading to progressive loss of motor control. The condition has been documented in Australian Kelpies and can cause significant welfare concerns.
Symptoms
- Unsteady gait (ataxia)
- Loss of balance and poor coordination
- Head tremors
- Difficulty judging distance or making precise movements
- Worsening of signs over time as the disease progresses
The Test
Our test investigates two genetic risk markers associated with CA in Australian Kelpies:
- VMP1 – autosomal recessive inheritance
- LINGO3 – autosomal recessive inheritance with variable penetrance
Dogs must inherit two copies of the variant (one from each parent) to be at risk. For LINGO3, penetrance is variable, meaning not all dogs with two copies will show clinical signs, but they remain genetically predisposed.
Breeding Considerations
- Clear dogs (no copies of the variants) can be safely bred without risk of producing affected puppies.
- Carriers (one copy) are healthy but can pass the variant to offspring. Breeding carriers to clear dogs avoids affected puppies but may produce more carriers.
- Affected dogs (two copies) are at risk of disease and should not be bred.
- Because LINGO3 shows variable penetrance, breeders should treat homozygous dogs as genetically at risk, even if they appear clinically normal.
Genetic testing enables responsible breeding decisions, reduces the risk of producing affected puppies, and supports the long-term health of the Australian Kelpie breed.
