Nebelung cat testing for PKD and HCM

Re: Nebelung cat testing for PKD and HCM

Mike Martin — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:02:28 GMT

[quote user="james herriot lied"] scanning ...... will only show up phenotype, rather than genotype.[/quote] Exactly.

I've dropped an abstract of mine into a Dropbox folder, which might help to explain the difficulties on screening for HCM. Dropbox

And another link to the FAB advise sheet on HCM: FAB

Re: Nebelung cat testing for PKD and HCM

Anthony Dennison — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:10:54 GMT

The other people to possibly try are the Animal Health trust in Newmarket, they do a lot of genetic testing.

Re: Nebelung cat testing for PKD and HCM

Kate Richardson — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:20:10 GMT

New one on me too! Looks like it started as DSH cross long haired cat and then they have added Russian Blue down the line, but the original pair were as you say siblings from successive litters. Groan. Is there history of PKD and HCM in the breed so far or is the breeder just being cautious? Scanning whilst a good idea, will only tell you what the situation is at that particular moment in time and will not give you predictve info on the likelihood of developing either condition as James said, so as you rightly point out, it has its limitations. Obviously if changes are detected, then they can stop breeding, but its then a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

It might be worth contacting someone in the USA- seems to be where it was first recognised and registered as a new breed http://www.tica.org/public/breeds/nb/intro.php I'll ask on the ISFM forum and see if I can get some contacts for you

Wish I hadn't neutered my handsome gold/cream persian cross male now, could have been sitting on a gold mine

Re: Nebelung cat testing for PKD and HCM

james herriot lied — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 07:40:03 GMT

Blimey. I must admit, this was a new one on me - although I'm not great on all the fancy cat breeds (and proudly so, I'm afraid), I've usually heard of them; not so with this one.

It seems to be a Russian Blue off-shoot, so that might be the closest breed for gene testing. But unless the breeder is prepared to accept the limitations of that approach (in writing) then your suggestion of scanning is an excellent one, although it will only show up phenotype, rather than genotype. Equally, if she's a breeder with a queen, then where's the male coming from? Has she contacted any studs for advice?

A quick search on the history seems to show that the original pair were siblings - albeit from successive litters. As we're only 25 years down the line from this genetically inauspicious start, PKD and HCM might be the least of the breed's problems.

No doubt I'll see six this week now.