links

	Links to sites for DNA testing
explanation
color testing for A, B, C, D	http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/Faculty/ lalyons/Sites/color.htm
A dominant to a: Agouti Gives the banding that creates pattern. Spotted Marbled AA or Aa Melanistic/solid aa B dominant over b or b1 Gives the full Black/Brown color. See black tail tip/black paw pads Brown/Black base color BB or Bb or Bb1 Chocolate bb Cinammon b1b1 C dominate over cs and cb This is called the albino locus. Full color CC, Ccs, Ccb Seal lynx point cscs, Seal mink cscb, Seal sepia cbcb D dominate over d Density locus allows for the color pigment distribution in hair shaft Density evenly distributed, DD or Dd Dilute dd There are more colors added periodically. This means that rather than breeding to find if a cat carries for seal lynx, you can actually test the C locus. Be sure to tell them you are testing for a Bengal cat as special procedures must be followed.
Extension Gene. UC DAVIS	http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/service/horse /coatcolor.html
Judge and geneticists, Adrianna Kajon, suggests there is the extension gene at work in the Benga cat. It has been suggested we test for this. Theabove link explains the genetics in the horse and dog. This might explain the highly rufoused cats in the Bengal cat breed, also called the "amber gene". in Norwegian Forrest cats.
For all FELINE tests available	http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/cat/index.php
Testing available today 12/08
DNA testing allows breeders to breed selectively. This lise is growing. Many require a simple cheek swab procedure. Contact the above address for further information. There are other DNA testing facilities as well. UC Davis is the one I have personally used, do not have experience with others.
DNA Typing, parentage
AB Blood group
Coat color
Erythrocyte Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PK Deficiendcy)
Long Hair
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD1)
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA )
Karyotyping
EYE
CERF refers to certification exam for eyes done by Veterinary Ophthalmologists. . http://www.vmdb.org/cerf.html (though this certification is listed for dogs, it is also done for cats)
http://www.germanpinscher.com/acrobat/ Howtoreadaneyeexamreport.pdf Tells you how to read a CERF report..
Persistant Pupillary Membrane (PPM)	http://www.vmdb.org/dx1.html (thank you to Pam Smithson 1/08)
"Persistent pupillary membranes, or PPMs as they are often called are common findings on CERF examinations. They may or may not be a problem in a breed and/or individual dogs. PPMs are remnants of a fetal structure called the pupillary membrane. This membrane covers the pupil before an animal is born. It is part of the blood supply to the developing lens (the structure in the eye that focuses light on the retina). Normally the pupillary membrane completely absorbs before birth in foals and calves but is partially present and continues to disappear in neonatal dogs. Absorption may not be complete in puppies when the eyes first open and small strands or a web-like structure may be seen across the pupil. These strands normally disappear by four to five weeks of age." from above website.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy or degeneration PRA	http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+ 1344&aid=342 (Susan Sehn)
Familial blindness is cats and dogs known as progressive retinal atrophy (or degeneration) This is more common in Persians. Study is taking place at UC Davis funded by the Winn Foundation
Symposium outline of eye disease	http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/ Proceedings/PR05000/PR00523.htm
This site has information on many different eye disease including the problems associated with the herpes virus and simple conjunctivitis.
Retinitis Pigmentosa Autosomal Recessive ARRP and other degenerative eye disease	http://www.retina-international.org/sci-news/animmod.doc
ANIMAL MODELS FOR STUDYING INHERITED DEGENERATIVE RETINAL DISEASE Genetic work being done on RP at Davis, but it is common in other pedigreed (domestic) cat breeds, esp. the Abyssinian. This link asks you to open a document that details the studies being done on animals (cats) to understand eye problems and blindness. The model used for ARRP is the Aby found in Section: V-B1
General links to information	http://cats.about.com/cs/healthissues /p/eyes_blindness.htm
This link is for general information about the types of eye disease. There is some information that is revealed in photos which I will include. But remember only a Veterinary Ophthalmologist can give you definitive diagnosis.






HEART
It is most important to collect data on different heart diseases. Not only for the cats but also because by using the feline model, we are actually able to extrapolate helpful information for the human. The newest and most complete data base I have been able to find is called ARCH, designed by http://www.archcertify.org/ Only a certified Verterinary Cardiologist can register the animal. This is very important as the standards used are from the veterinarians. http://www.careanimalfoundation.org/vision/studies/certify _cardiac/website/ARCHCardiologistInstructions.pdf
Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)			http://mysite.verizon.net/ jachinitz/hcm/diagnose.html
			http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/ Health/HCM.html
			http://www.cfa.org/articles/ health/hypertrophiccardiomyopathy.html
			http://www.pawpeds.com/ pawacademy/health/mybpc3/
			http://catvet.homestead.com/HCM_ for_Breeders_rev_2006.pdf
			http://www.cfa.org/articles/health /HCMupdate.html
			http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ Faculty/lalyons/Sites/heart.htm
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may be mild, moderate or severe. Cats with HCM may develop heart failure, die suddenly, or form a clot inside the heart that then breaks loose and travels to different regions of the body (most commonly the hind legs). Only cats with severe HCM develop heart failure. Most, but not all, cats that form a clot have severe HCM. Although the incidence of sudden death appears to be small, it can happen at any time to any cat with HCM.
Dialated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)			http://www.petplace.com/cats/dilated-cardiomyopathy-in-cats-dcm/page1.aspx
			http://www.med.ucla.edu/wilkes/intro.html
Diet and DCM			http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/ SpotlightonVetMedicine/leopardcatheart.cfm
Dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM, also known as congestive cardiomyopathy, is a condition in which the heart becomes weakened and enlarged, and cannot pump blood efficiently. The decreased heart function can affect the lungs, liver, and other body systems. DCM is one of the cardiomyopathies, a group of diseases that primarily affect the myocardium (the muscle of the heart). Different cardiomyopathies have different causes, and affect the heart in different ways. In DCM a portion of the myocardium is dilated, often without any obvious cause. Left and/or right ventricular systolic pump function of the heart is impaired, leading to progressive cardiac enlargement and hypertrophy, a process called remodeling.^[1] Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common form of cardiomyopathy. It occurs more frequently in men than in women, and is most common between the ages of 20 and 60 years.^[2] About one in three cases of congestive heart failure (CHF) is due to dilated cardiomyopathy.^[1] Dilated cardiomyopathy also occurs in children. (copied from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilated_cardiomyopathy )
Heart Murmurs			http://www.catchannel.com/vetlibrary/article_ 5638.aspx?cm_sp=InternalClicks-_-RelatedArticles-_- vetlibrary/article_5638
There are different types of murmurs, some of them called juvenile are simply developmental and are harmless, but it is important that a veterinarian look at and diagnose. Murmurs are staged on severity... 1-6 (1 low - 6 high)
Heart sounds			http://www.petplace.com/cats/dilated-cardiomyopathy-in-cats-dcm/page1.aspx
An interesting site to actually hear the beating of the heart...
For further understanding
These links are for information on health related issues in general.
from the American Veterinarian Association			http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/avma-opens-online-resource-to-general-public,346273.shtml

Testing
It has been noted that since using the litter box we have contained not only the urine and feces from our cats, we also have created an incubation area for the possible problems we begin to note in cats.
Tritrichomonas Foetus			http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/docs/jody_gookin.html
			http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/docs/documents /ownersguide_tfoetus_revised042808.pdf
Trich as it is often called is being found more often in cats. I have begun testing and following the guidelines given in an article by Dave Condon http://fanciers.com/cat-facts/cat-health/17-Internal%20Parasites/55-tritrichomonas-foetus-by-dave-condon.html
Corona Virus			http://diaglab.vet.cornell.edu/test/factsheets/FSFelCoronaviursRT-PCR.pdf
Feline Coronavirus (FCoV) is a common viral infection in cats. It generally causes asymptomatic infection, but can cause mild diarrhea.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis
FIP as it is commonly called is both genetic and environmental. This is connected to the corona virus mentioned above.
For breeders		http://www.orionfoundation.com/Information.htm #Breeding%20considerations
for a diagnosed cat			http://www.dr-addie.com/downloads.html #_My%20Cat%20Has%20FIP_
Vaccine
vaccine protocols			http://www.catvets.com/uploads/HTML/VaccineSummary.html

For breeders and genetics
inbreeding			http://www.sciencenews.org/articles /20080412/bob8.asp

Color primer			http://www.tenset.co.uk/catgen/index.html

Behavior
General Behavior			http://www.newmanveterinary.com/feline.html








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