Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
No link between coat color, eye disease, and kidney disease
By Rah, HyungChul et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2006·Department of Population Health and Reproduction, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Lack of genetic association among coat colors, progressive retinal atrophy and polycystic kidney disease in Persian cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of Persian cats was examined for an inherited eye disease called progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and its possible links to coat colors and polycystic kidney disease (PKD). The study found no connection between PRA and specific coat colors like chocolate or Himalayan, suggesting that PRA could be more common in this breed than breeders previously thought. This means that Persian cats of any coat color could be at risk for PRA, and pet owners should be aware of this possibility when considering their cat's health.
People also search for: Persian cat eye problems · progressive retinal atrophy in cats · polycystic kidney disease in Persian cats
Abstract
An inherited form of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is recognized in Persian cats; however, the prevalence of PRA in the breed has not been determined. Breeders suggest that cats from only brown ('chocolate') or Himalayan ('pointed') lines are at risk for PRA, suggesting the disease is not widespread. This study was designed to evaluate whether PRA in Persian cats is associated with three coat colors, including chocolate, or with a highly prevalent inherited disease in this breed--polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Sixty related cats were evaluated for PRA by ophthalmic examination and genetically typed for PKD and the mutations that cause coat color variants in agouti, brown and color (producing the pointed coloration in Himalayan). No associations were identified among any of the traits, including between PRA and chocolate. These data suggest that PRA is not limited to cats with chocolate coat coloration and breeders and veterinarians should be aware that the prevalence of the disease may be higher than currently claimed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16777456/