The Fanconi Syndrome

There have been 2 confirmed cases of Fanconi in our Australian pet population of Basenjis, and it is only by chance that we, as Basenji breeders, have found this out. Unfortunately, pet owners often do not notify the breeder if they have lost their Basenji through illness. There have also been 2 confirmed cases of Fanconi in Australian Basenjis exported overseas.

Recently, also, a couple approached us at a show, to meet our dogs, and mentioned in conversation that they had had a Basenji several years ago, but unfortunately it had been put down, after becoming ill with diabetes -like symptoms.

The owners did not know about Fanconi - and the vet was perplexed, because although there were some symptoms of diabetes, there were others that did not fit this diagnosis.

This isn't the time to point the finger at other breeders - no one manufactures the Fanconi gene - but once it is known to be in the breed - it is what you do with this knowledge - that will show your mettle as a breeder - and your love or otherwise of the breed.

At the very least, there will be carriers in Australia, and as with hemolytic anaemia - we have , so far, been very lucky.

However, if we had not done the testing for hemolytic anaemia , at the time that we did - in 2 or 3 generations, we could have had many affected dogs.

There has been a DNA linkage test developed, after years of ongoing research . This test identifies the gene path that has been present in affected dogs. It gives results of:

• Probably clear for Fanconi
• Probable carrier for Fanconi
• Probable affected for Fanconi
• Indeterminate (between carrier and clear) - for safety's sake - regard as a carrier.

A clear or a carrier Basenji will never develop Fanconi, but if 2 carriers are mated together, it is possible for Fanconi to come through in the litter.

All breeders need to test - regardless of their bloodlines - so that carriers and clears can be recognised.

Finding clear dogs is going to be very important to the breed, as they can be used with those that test as carriers, to help clear any affected bloodlines.

Fanconi has already been diagnosed in most countries where there are Basenjis.

This is a time when all breeders of Basenjis throughout the world should pull together to help each other, so that we can eventually eradicate Fanconi from the breed - as we have already done with hemolytic anaemia.

We have been lucky (in a way) in that the breeders of 2 of our imports kept DNA samples from our 2 dogs, for future use if a Fanconi test became available.

They have been tested - and we are now in the process of testing all our other dogs.

• Aust/Amer CH Jasiri-Sukari HR Pup N Stuff (Imp USA)
  • has tested as "probably clear/normal for Fanconi"
• Aust/Amer CH Sukari-Jasiri Mary Puppins (Imp USA)
  • has tested as "probably affected with Fanconi"

Both have always strip-tested clear for glucose in the urine the whole time that we have had them.