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Inheritance of polycystic kidney disease in Persian cats
D S Biller1, S P DiBartola, K A Eaton
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
Insights
Polycystic kidney disease in Persian cats, a condition leading to kidney failure, is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Early ultrasound detection is possible, aiding in establishing this feline model for human autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease research.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Genetics
- Nephrology
Background:
- Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in Persian cats leads to chronic renal failure.
- A 6-year-old affected cat was used to establish a PKD colony.
- This condition serves as a potential animal model for human PKD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the inheritance pattern of PKD in Persian cats.
- To determine the earliest age for ultrasound detection of PKD cysts.
- To validate the Persian cat as an animal model for human autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).
Main Methods:
- Ultrasonography was used to detect renal cysts in cats from 7 weeks of age.
- Affected and unaffected cats were crossbred to analyze inheritance patterns.
- Necropsy confirmed the absence of PKD in cats with negative ultrasound findings at 6 months.
Main Results:
- Renal cysts were detectable by ultrasonography as early as 7 weeks of age.
- Absence of cysts at 6 months correlated with no PKD at necropsy.
- Breeding studies indicated a 42-58% affected rate in affected x unaffected crosses and 73-27% in affected x affected crosses, consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance.
Conclusions:
- The inheritance of PKD in Persian cats is compatible with an autosomal dominant trait.
- Early ultrasound screening at 6 months can reliably rule out PKD.
- Persian cats with PKD represent a valuable model for studying human ADPKD.
Abstract:
Polycystic kidney disease in Persian cats culminates in chronic renal failure after a variable clinical course. An affected 6-year-old Persian cat was used to establish a colony of cats with polycystic kidney disease. In affected cats, cysts could be detected by ultrasonography as early as 7 weeks of age. Absence of cysts on ultrasound examination at 6 months of age was correlated with absence of polycystic kidney disease at necropsy. Both males and females were affected and, of progeny from affected x unaffected crosses, 42% were affected and 58% were unaffected. In affected x affected crosses, 73% of progeny were affected and 27% were unaffected. These results are compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance of this trait. Polycystic kidney disease in Persian cats resembles autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) in human beings, and represents a valuable animal model of the human disease.