VetGen - The leader in veterinary genetic disease research and genetic disease detection services for purebred animals

Breeds Serviced

  • Boston Terrier
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Hereditary Cataract


There are several types of inherited cataract in the dog which vary in both their appearance and age of onset. The majority of these are inherited as autosomal recessive traits, but some are inherited as dominant or perhaps polygenic trait. Recently, Dr., Cathryn Mellersh’s research group at the Animal Health Trust identified a mutation in heat shock transcription factor gene, HSF4, which is responsible for recessively inherited juvenile cataracts in Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Boston Terriers. The test offered here is based on that work. It should be noted both early onset (EHC) and late onset (LHC) cataracts occur in the Boston Terrier breed, and this test is only relevant to the former.