Prevalence of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in Persian and Persian-related cats in Brazil

Cardiovascular changes in Persian cats with polycystic kidney disease: a study of cardiac troponin I, echocardiography and blood pressure

OBJECTIVES

Cardiovascular complications are well known in humans with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD), but limited data exist for cats. This study aimed to assess echocardiographic changes, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in Persian cats with PKD to detect early cardiac abnormalities.

METHODS

In total, 52 Persian and mixed-Persian cats were enrolled, with 26 cats in the control group and 26 diagnosed with PKD via ultrasound due to the unavailability of genetic testing. Although genetic testing is the gold standard for definitive diagnosis, this study utilised high-sensitivity ultrasound as an alternative diagnostic tool. This method aligns with existing literature supporting its effectiveness in detecting PKD, particularly in regions where genetic testing is not accessible. Echocardiographic examinations employed M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography to measure the diastolic thickness of the interventricular septum and the left ventricular free wall. Doppler ultrasonography was used to measure SBP and cTnI serum levels were determined using a Monobind-ELISA kit.

RESULTS

Median SBP and cTnI levels in PKD cats were 155 mmHg and 85.80 ng/l, respectively, which was significantly higher than the control group (P ⩽0.001). Interventricular septum in systole, as well as diastolic thickness of the interventricular septum and the left ventricular free wall, was significantly elevated in PKD cats compared with controls (P ⩽0.001). No significant differences were observed in other echocardiographic parameters.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Asymptomatic PKD-affected Persian cats exhibited elevated SBP and cardiac structural changes; however, the clinical significance of these findings remains uncertain due to a lack of long-term follow-up. While early cardiac changes may be present, further research is necessary to establish their clinical relevance and guide appropriate management strategies. Monitoring PKD cats is advised, but a direct clinical impact is not confirmed at this stage.

Prevalence of polycystic kidney disease in Persian and Persian-related cats in western Mexico

OBJECTIVES

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), the most frequently diagnosed hereditary disease affecting Persian cats, is caused by a cytosine-to-adenine transversion (10063C>A) in PKD1, the gene that codes for polycystin-1. The objective of this study was to provide a preliminary estimate of the frequency of the pathogenic 10063C>A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of PKD1 in Persian and Persian-related cat breeds in western Mexico.

METHODS

Blood samples were collected from 104 cats (89 Persian, seven Persian crossbreed, five Siamese and three Himalayan cats). Genotyping was performed with our proposed PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay, as well as a previously established PCR-RFLP method for validation. The genotypes of control cats were corroborated by a commercial veterinary genetics laboratory.

RESULTS

Our proposed PCR-RFLP assay and the validated PCR-RFLP methodology indicated that 24/104 (23.1%) cats in this study were heterozygous carriers of the 10063C>A SNP, including 23/89 Persian cats (25.8%) and 1/7 Persian crossbreed cats (14.3%). No Siamese or Himalayan cats were carriers. There were no discrepancies between the results obtained with our proposed assay and those obtained with the validation method or with commercial laboratory results.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The carrier frequency of the PKD1 10063C>A SNP in Persian and Persian-related cat breeds in western Mexico was found to be 23.1%. ADPKD frequencies among cat populations in Mexico have not been published previously. Genotyping assays can be used to facilitate the selection of breeding stocks by local breeders and veterinarians to avoid propagation of ADPKD.

Molecular detection of polycystic kidney disease in Persian and Persian-related breeds in Iran

Objectives

This study was aimed at detecting feline autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in a population of Persian and Persian-related breeds by a molecular method in Iran.

Methods

Buccal swab samples were collected from 47 cats and examined with a touchdown PCR method. Additionally, partial sequencing was performed in two cats with bilateral renal cysts.

Results

Twenty-two cats (46.8%) were diagnosed as heterozygous for this mutation. Sequence analysis of two cats showed C to A point mutation in the PKD1 gene, as in previous studies.

Conclusions and relevance

Prevalence of this disease is high in Iran, highlighting the need for molecular screening tests before including cats in breeding programmes.

Feline Polycystic Kidney Disease: An Update

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a disease that affects felines and other mammals, such as humans. The common name is autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and causes a progressive development of fluid-filled cysts in the kidney and sometimes in other organs as the liver and pancreas. The formation and growth of cysts progress slowly, causing deterioration of kidney tissue and a gradual decrease in kidney function, leading to irreversible kidney failure. Feline PKD or ADPKD in humans are hereditary pathologies of autosomal dominant transmission. ADPKD is one of the genetic diseases with the highest prevalence in humans. In cats, this disease also has a high prevalence, mainly in the Persian breed, being one of the most common feline genetic diseases. Imaging tests seem to be the most reliable method for diagnosis of the disease, although more genetic tests are being developed to detect the presence of the responsible mutation. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about feline PKD to guide future research related to an adequate diagnosis and early detection of causal mutations. It can allow the establishment of selection programs to reduce or eliminate this pathology in feline breeds.