%0 Journal Article %T Multiple congenital ocular anomalies in three related litters of Jack Russell Terrier puppies. %A Barsotti G %A Abramo F %A Nuti M %A Novelli A %A Puccinelli C %A Cecchi F %J Vet Ophthalmol %V 0 %N 0 %D 2024 May 3 %M 38700994 %F 1.444 %R 10.1111/vop.13221 %X OBJECTIVE: To describe multiple congenital ocular anomalies in three litters of Jack Russell Terrier puppies.
METHODS: Seven purebred Jack Russell Terrier puppies from three related litters and their four parents.
METHODS: Medical records of the puppies and their parents were evaluated. All dogs underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, followed by bilateral ocular ultrasonography in two of the puppies with complete corneal opacity. One eye from an affected puppy was subjected to histopathology. A complete database of pedigrees was built, and individual inbreeding was evaluated.
RESULTS: The most commonly diagnosed ocular anomalies in the puppies were: various anomalies of the fundus (12/14 eyes); microphthalmia (10/14 eyes); sclerocornea (8/14 eyes); and persistent pupillary membranes (7/14 eyes). Six out of seven puppies had at least two ocular abnormalities, and only one puppy was normal. Four out of seven puppies had sclerocornea, a particular corneal opacity to date described only in Spanish Podenco dogs. No ocular abnormalities were found in the parents examined (4/4). Analysis of the pedigrees showed that all the puppies and two parents were inbred, and the individual values of the inbreeding puppies were greater than 6.25% in two litters.
CONCLUSIONS: Inbreeding with closely related Jack Russell Terriers may result in severe congenital eye abnormalities in puppies.