Alaskan Malamute Club of America

AMCA Reimbursement Program for DNA Test Submission to OFA

1. DNA Tests that will be reimbursed

Only those DNA tests that are Alaskan Malamute specific and are required or “recommended” per AKC Health testing for the breed will be reimbursed on submission to OFA. The reimbursement will cover the actual cost of submission to OFA up to a maximum of $10 per test (currently the stated fee for submitting 3 tests to OFA together for a single dog). The tests covered as of April 1st 2022 are:

A. Alaskan Malamute Polyneuropathy, AMPN (NDRG1 SNP)

i. Polyneuropathy is a progressive neurologic disease that causes peripheral nerve dysfunction. Peripheral nerves relay messages between the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body, mediating sensation, coordination, and movement.

ii. Affected Malamutes usually begin to show signs when they are between seven and eighteen months of age, though some begin to show signs as early as three months old.

B. Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, PCD (NME5, Alaskan Malamute Variant)

i. PCD arises from a mutation that inhibits the function of motile cellular appendages such as sperm flagella and the cilia of respiratory tract cells. These appendages whip with directionality, allowing sperm to propel themselves towards an egg, and for respiratory tract cells to whip dust, bacteria, and mucus up towards the throat to be coughed out.

ii. Animals affected with PCD can have reduced fertility, or be infertile, and show increasingly severe respiratory tract infections.

C. Day Blindness (CNGB3 Deletion, Alaskan Malamute Variant)

i. Synonyms: Day Blindness, Cone Degeneration, Achromatopsia.

ii. Day Blindness (also known as Cone Degeneration (cd) or Achromatopsia) is a progressive, non-painful disorder of the retina that affects color vision and light perception. Cone cells not only register color, but also allow the dog to adjust their eyes to bright light.

iii. Affected dogs develop day-blindness and photophobia (light sensitivity). Symptoms are present only in bright light; vision in dim light is normal.

2. How to submit for reimbursement

A. Only those DNA test results submitted to OFA for inclusion into the OFA database will be reimbursed.

B. The date of submission to OFA must be on or after April 1, 2022. No reimbursement of test results submitted to OFA prior to this date will be reimbursed.

C. You must be an AMCA member in good standing at the time of submission and request for reimbursement in order to be reimbursed for the DNA test submission.

D. An AMCA member breeder who pays for submission of test results to OFA can claim for dogs they do not own but bred, provided they have paid the submission fees.

E. Any owner, co-owner or breeder requesting reimbursement of fees paid to OFA must be able to show that they have paid the fees. Reimbursement will not be given to AMCA members (owners or breeders) who have not paid the fees themselves.

F. Only one claim per dog and test will be reimbursed

To receive reimbursement, the following is the procedure:

1. Submit test results to OFA and pay for the submission(s).

2. Complete the application for reimbursement form.

3. The invoice showing the name of the dog(s) and test(s) submitted (if possible say yes to the electronic receipt since this contains all the relevant information in a PDF format that is easily forwarded) and the application for reimbursement form should be emailed to Karyn Colman at nyrakym@comcast.net

4. If the owner submitting the results to the OFA database is not the AMCA member requesting reimbursement, proof of ownership (or breeder of record) and payment of the fees by the AMCA member requesting reimbursement will be required (Electronic receipt from OFA will show the paying party) If the paying party on the OFA submission is not the requestor, some proof of reimbursement of the paying party will be required before AMCA will send out funds to the requestor.

5. On confirmation of the membership status of the applicant, payment of the fees to OFA or submitting party, and that the dog(s) being claimed for is/are Alaskan Malamutes, a check will be mailed to the applicant by the Health Committee Chair.

Click the Link below to access the Reimbursement Form:

AMCA Reimbursement Program for DNA Test Submission to OFA