BICHON FRISE CERF STATISTICS SINCE 1991
Vickie Halstead RN, CVNS, CCRN, CEN, LNC
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As chairman of the BFCA health
committee, I receive CERF statistics yearly that commenced in 1991
and do not include names of dogs. So it is my duty to report these
statistics to Bichon breeders and owners, which will be cumulative.
The data in this report originates only from Bichons that have
completed CERF exams. Even if you did not send your CERF exam report
into CERF, one copy of the form is sent to CERF by the
ophthalmologist, which remains anonymous. As you view these numbers,
keep in mind that many more Bichons are not CERF examined, and the
Bichons that are CERF examined are predominately owned by
responsible breeders. Therefore, the incidence of juvenile cataracts
in the breed is much higher than is reflected in this report, about
12% according to Dr. Gelatt who completed research on the Bichon
cataracts.
Some Bichon breeders do not CERF their breeding animals yearly, yet
some CERF them at a certain age and stop, perhaps thinking that is
adequate. According to Dr. Kirk Gelatt from the CERF data, the
average age of diagnosis of the Bichon cataracts was 5-6 years, but
the range was 3-10 years. The age of onset can be as young as 1-2
years. Cataracts that begin beyond the age of 10 years therefore are
categorized as old age cataracts and are not genetic. If the
cataracts begin between 8-10 years of age, the ophthalmologist can
differentiate the old age cataracts versus the genetic cataracts by
their characteristics. Dr. Gelatt still recommends the first CERF
exam be completed at 1 year of age. With this in mind, BFCA urges
you to CERF annually while you are using your Bichons for breeding.
According to CERF, your certificate is only valid for one year so
you cannot state that your dog is CERF certified if the year has
elapsed. If you do not send the CERF form that the ophthalmologist
completes into CERF, your data is not registered and will not appear
on the OFA web site.
Definitions
- 1. Corneal dystrophy: A
non-inflammatory degeneration of the cornea causing opacity (white
to gray) in one or more of the corneal layers. It is usually
inherited and bilateral. See this article for more information
http://www.bichonhealth.org/HealthInfo/CornealDystrophy.asp
- 2. Distichiasis: Eyelashes that
are abnormally located on the rim of the eyelid, causing
irritation of the eyes that may occur at any age. The hereditary
basis has not been established but is suspected to be genetic.
Breeding discretion is advised.
- 3. Progressive retinal atrophy
(PRA): Degeneration of the specialized light-sensitive cells of
the retina, causing blindness. In most breeds the mode of
inheritance is autosomal recessive. Breeding of affected dogs is
not recommended.
- 4. Retinal dysplasia/folds:
Abnormal development of the layers of the retina that may result
in folds in the layers. It can develop at any age, but if seen in
puppies it may resolve with maturity. In most cases it is genetic,
and if so is usually bilateral. See this article for more
information
http://www.bichonhealth.org/HealthInfo/RetinalDysplasia.asp
- 5. Cataracts: An opacity that
develops in the lens of they eye. See this article for more
information
http://www.bichonhealth.org/HealthInfo/CataractInheritance.asp
- 6. Punctate cataract, significance
unknown: Tiny dot on the lens that rarely progresses to true
cataract, and rarely may be caused by trauma or infection. If on
anterior lens, they are even less likely to progress to genetic
cataracts because the Bichon genetic cataracts develop on the
posterior lens. If no progression, genetic cataracts can be ruled
out and breeding is allowed.
- 7. Persistent papillary membranes
(PPM): Remnants of fetal blood vessels that fail to regress and
persist as strands of tissue crossing the pupil. The location of
PPM in the eye dictates whether the dog will pass or fail CERF. If
the strands bridge between the iris and other structures in they
eye, they may be associated with corneal opacities and vision
impairment, so that dog will not pass CERF. If the strands bridge
from iris to iris, that dog will pass CERF with “breeders option”
recommendations.
Interpretation of
the CERF statistics
- CERF testing of Bichons has
remained stable at around 400-500 dogs per year, with 2000 being
the year of the highest level of testing.
- The incidence of corneal dystrophy
has remained stable at 3-4%.
- The incidence of PRA has remained
stable at around 1%.
- The incidence of retinal dysplasia/folds
has remained stable at around 1%.
- The incidence of punctate
cataracts, significance unknown, has remained stable at 4-6% until
2007 when it increased to 9%.
- The incidence of genetic cataracts
remained stable at 5-10% prior to 2005 when it increased to 13%,
and remains there in 2007.
- The incidence of PPM has remained
stable at around 1-3% until 2006 when it increased to 5%. This
condition deserves to be watched closely.
Bichon Frise CERF
Statistics 1991-2007
|
1991 THROUGH 1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
| TOTAL NUMBER OF BICHONS TESTED |
2478 |
616 |
383 |
530 |
454 |
415 |
455 |
504 |
431 |
| CORNEAL DYSTROPHY |
81 = 3% |
15 = 2% |
14 = 4% |
16 = 3% |
14 = 3% |
20 = 5% |
19 = 4% |
20 = 4% |
18 = 4% |
| DISTICHIASIS (EYELASHES) |
66 = 2.7% |
21 = 3% |
18 = 5% |
19 = 3.5% |
8 = 2% |
23 = 5% |
18 = 4% |
21 = 4% |
13 = 3% |
| PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY (PRA) |
24 = 1% |
6 = 1% |
1 = 0.3% |
1 = 0.2% |
7 = 1.5% |
2 = 0.5% |
1 = 0.2% |
2 = 0.4% |
2 = 0.4% |
| RETINAL DYSPLASIA/FOLDS |
27 = 1% |
5 = 0.8% |
1 = 0.3% |
3 = 0.6% |
1 = 0.2% |
5 = 1% |
1 = 0.2% |
3 = 0.6% |
3 = 0.7% |
| PUNCTATE CATARACTS, SIGNIFICANCE UNKNOWN |
136 = 5% |
39 = 6% |
21 = 5% |
27 = 5% |
17 = 4% |
16 = 4% |
22 = 5% |
30 = 6% |
40 = 9% |
| CATARACTS (ANTERIOR & POSTERIOR LENS) |
183 = 7% |
44 = 7% |
19 = 5% |
37 = 7% |
45 = 10% |
20 = 5% |
61 = 13% |
49 = 10% |
55 = 13% |
| PERSISTENT PUPILLARY MEMBRANES (PPM) |
85 = 3% |
13 = 2% |
10 = 3% |
3 = 0.6% |
6 = 1% |
14 = 3% |
15 = 3% |
24 = 5% |
17 = 4% |
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