Please be aware that it has come to my attention that PKDef has been spread among the bengal genes. PKDef has nothing to do with PKD, Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency is an inherited disease occasionally encountered in Abyssinian and Somali cats, and also reported in the domestic shorthair cat. Pyruvate kinase is an enzyme found within red blood cells which enables them to produce energy to survive. If this enzyme is lacking, the lifespan of the red blood cells is significantly reduced, resulting in a reduction in the number of red blood cells in the circulation (anaemia).

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/pk_deficiency/info.html

The symptoms in affected kittens can be very easily mistaken for FIP. If you had FIP kittens and it was not confirmed by autopsy, it can be useful to get your cats tested for PKDef. There is a new simple one-time swap test available at UC Davis. https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/

Mind you, I know what I am talking about. One of my queens turned out to be a carrier (one ill gene).
Edit April 30th: and our stud turned out to be an affected cat (two ill genes) which means the poor guy will certainly die of this horrible disease. Nobody can predict when, but it is inevitable

Here in the Netherlands and in Germany, more and more bengals turn out to be carriers. We only found out because we started testing them. We got the heads up from a German breeder we thank her for that! If it is spread in our bengals, chances are it is spread in your bengals as well.

There is no reason to panic not to breed a carrier (one ill gene) just as long as the partner is not a carrier as well. Kittens from those matings should be tested if they will be used for breeding again.
Affected cats, with 2 ill genes, officially should be neutered for their own health sakes but I recently learned most PKDef affected cats die on the operation table or shortly after. We are still uncertain if we might try chemical castration for our stud. One thing will be sure: we'll get him a pampered rest of his life.

Get your bengals tested. It can save you and your kitten buyers a lot of grieve.

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Ilona
Cattery Ifness, The Netherlands

http://www.ifness.com/bengaal/

That's really interesting, thanks for posting. It's especially interesting how it can be mistaken for FIP. I don't know if it's just because I come into contact with more Bengal owners over time, but it does seem to me that FIP-like symptoms are being reported more regularly and I have been wondering if they are all FIP or not. Tragically it probably doesn't change the outcome for the poor owner but knowledge is vital for future generations.

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Miki & My Beloved Bengals http://mybelovedbengals.blogspot.com/

Shiloh, Darcy, Rudy The Roodster & Ozzy...

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Ilona
Cattery Ifness, The Netherlands

http://www.ifness.com/bengaal/

Thank you for the information - how do we test in the UK for this?

Do we apply for a swab kit from the Lab in the us - swab and then send back?

Does anyone know if this test is something Idexx lab in this country can do?

ETA sorry I should learn to read properly I see now Bristol University are able to do the swab test

UC Davis testing is very simple. You make a login, choose your tests. Pay with credit card or ask for a banknumber for a transfer. You'll get the right documents and instructions in your mail. You print out the documents, do a swap on each cat with a Q tip and send it in. They will confirm by mail when your tests have arrived and about 5-7 workdays later, you'll get the results also in mail.

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Ilona
Cattery Ifness, The Netherlands

http://www.ifness.com/bengaal/

Langford at Bristol test for this. Cost is £30 though some clubs have a code for a 20% discount.
PLEASE do test for this, so far 2 breeders have tested with carriers found from 2 totally unrelated uk lines...
You just need a cotton wool bud for a mouth swab...
wendy

Forwarded by request from from Steven Robertson...

Good moves being made regarding PK Def. The FAB and GCCF are both looking into this. The GCCF are in contact with Urs Giger who found this and was one who developed the test. As this is currently the only concerted effort they really need more results.

If you are or have tested and found any carriers or positives would you send your results and pedigree(s) to Jen Lacey; the contact for the GCCF genetics committee. This is what she asked to tell people :
"The results and the pedigrees are what's needed, and they must understand they'll be sharing them with GCCF Genetics Committee, Veterinary Committee and probably the senior vets in this field at Langford."

From their initial enquiries the water is VERY murky on this subject so hopefully the more pedigrees and results they get will give us a better indication. Please pass this on to anyone you know who will be testing.

Jen's e-mail is : jen.lacey@btinternet.com

More people have tested their cats and so far its 24% of cats tested are carriers...
Please test, langford do not post any indentifying details, just no of cats testes and results. Its looking scarey at the moment as most of the carriers are not related...

wendy

24%? That even worse than our suspection based on what we see in the Netherlands.

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Ilona
Cattery Ifness, The Netherlands

http://www.ifness.com/bengaal/

I would also like to point out that for members of the Bengal Cat Club there is a code/link for testing at Langford that includes a discount that results in the bargain testing price of £24 per cat/test!!!!

If you are thinking of testing your cats, now is a good time to join the BCC and get the discount code I think?

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Best Wishes,
Karen <UK>
http://www.suntouchedbengals.com
http://www.bengalbreedersunited.co.uk