Retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy (RPED) in the briard

Authors: Jones BR
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 34, Issue 5, pp 78, May 1986
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Companion animal, Dog
Subject Terms: Eye/opthalmology, Genetics, Inherited disease/conditions, Clinical examination
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: In 1984 Bedford described a retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy (RPED) in the Briard breed in Great Britain. In a five year survey involving approximately 70% of the Briard population in Great Britain, 31% of dogs 18 months of age or older were affected with a primary retinal pigment dystrophy which causes secondary neuroretinal degeneration and in some dogs subsequent blindness. The age of onset of the condition in the British dogs was extremely variable. The majority developed the disease during the two to six year period of their lives but dogs as young as 17 months and as old as nine years were found to be affected for the first time. RPED can only be diagnosed by opthalmoscopic examination of the ocular fundus. The disease is first seen as a gradual bilateral appearance of light brown spots in the pigment epithehal cells which gradually appear over all the tapetal fundus. It is at the time when extensive pigment spotting is present that vision impairment may for the first time become noticeable. Later when there is visible evidence of retinal degeneration as characterised by areas of increased tapetal reflectivity vision impairment does occur in most dogs. There is a variable rate of progression…

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