Familial Nephropathy (FN) has been referred to in several ways: kidney failure, fatal renal disease, juvenile nephropathy, renal cortical hypoplasia, hereditary nephritis (HN), Autosomal Hereditary Recessive Nephropathy (AHRN) in canines and Alport Syndrome in humans. Among English Cocker Spaniel breeders in the U.S., the most common reference is to “FN” and this term is used to name the OptiGen DNA test.

For more information about FN, please visit our FN information page.

The OptiGen/Antagene FN test is a DNA-based test that accurately diagnoses a fatal kidney disease that occurs in cocker spaniels. The test also detects CARRIERS of this disease and clears dogs that are genetically NORMAL.

FN is inherited in an Autosomal recessive pattern in the cocker spaniel. This means the gene mutation responsible for FN is located on an Autosome (that is, a chromosome that is not a sex chromosome) and FN disease results when the gene mutation is passed to the offspring by both the mother and the father.

Our dogs were the first UK resident dogs to be tested by OptiGen for FN and in early January 2007, we were delighted to receive "Normal" FN test results for ALL our dogs previously OptiGen prcd-PRA tested!

From these test results were also able to determine which of our dogs are genetically (via parentage) "Clear" for FN, the results are shown below:

Name	Details	Result
Powerscourt Enchantress - Buttons	Genotype Normal via parentage	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Higher Echelon - Toby	OptiGen Test - 22/01/07	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Mr Pointment - Teddy	Genotype Normal via parentage	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Paint Box - Juno	Genotype Normal via parentage	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Paint Splash - Tiggy	OptiGen Test - 18/01/07	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Perdita - Purdie	OptiGen Test - 18/01/07	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Perfect Gift - Maddie	OptiGen Test - 18/01/07	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Perfect Love - Minty	Genotype Normal via parentage	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Perfect Magic - Dudley	Genotype Normal via parentage	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Phantasia - Tasha	Genotype Normal via parentage	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Pingu - Stan	Genotype Normal via parentage	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Pippi's Gift - Katie	OptiGen Test - 18/01/07	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Power Of Love JW - Lottie	OptiGen Test - 18/01/07	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Precious Gift - Kea	Genotype Normal via parentage	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Precious Simba - Megan	Genotype Normal via parentage	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Prelude - Henry	Antagene Test - 21/05/07	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Pure Gold - Maggie	Genotype Normal via parentage	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Pure Love - Willow	Antagene Test - 21/05/07	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Pure Silk - Sophie	Genotype Normal via parentage	Homozygous Normal
Powerscourt Spice Of Life - Rosie	OptiGen Test - 18/01/07	Homozygous Normal
Riondel Venture to Powerscourt - Archie	OptiGen Test - 15/01/07	Homozygous Normal
Roqfolly Hazelnut - Haze	Antagene Test 04/11/09	Homozygous Normal
Spendles Spinnet of Powerscourt - Tilly	OptiGen Test - 18/01/07	Homozygous Normal
Wakehurst Playboy - Fudge	Antagene Test - 21/05/07	Homozygous Normal

For a list of results for all dogs (all Cocker Spaniels, not just Powerscourt cockers) tested please click here! Please note, the results currently listed for our dogs are only the results of dogs still connected to our breeding programme & have been submitted voluntarily). Currently the Kennel Club are not automatically listing Antagene FN results, their submission relies upon the dog's owner supplying the results voluntarily.

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