Figure 22b Dorsoventral thoracic radiograph of a 10-year-old female Domestic Shorthaired cat with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Endocardial fibroelastosis

• Age of onset: <6 months
  
• Thought to be inherited in this breed

(Darke 1989)

Dermatological conditions

Feline acromelanism

• Temperature-dependent enzyme involved in pathogenesis
  
• Causes points to develop

(Scott, Miller & Griffin 2001a)

Generalized demodicosis

• Rare in cats
  
• Possible predisposition in this breed
  
• Usually less severe in cats than in dogs

(Scott, Miller & Griffin 2001b)

Psychogenic alopecia

• Thought to be a result of anxiety
  
• Multifactorial in many cases

(Scott, Miller & Griffin 2001o)

Endocrine conditions

Diabetes mellitus

• Breed at increased risk in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, but not in the USA
  
• No sex predisposition in Burmese cats
  
• Older cats predisposed
  
• Common endocrinopathy (1:230 in wholepopulation of cats; 1:57 Burmese cats in one UK survey)
  
• In non-Burmese breeds being male, neutered, inactive and over 5 kg are risk factors

(Panciera et al. 1990, Rand et al. 1997, McCann et al. 2007)

Infectious conditions

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)

• Breed at increased risk in Australian case series
  
• Susceptibility to FIP may be partially inherited polygenically as suggested in one study of purebred catteries in the USA
  
• Increased risk 3 months to 3 years
  
• Males and sexually intact cats predisposed
  
• Cats in multicat environment at increased risk
  
• This breed predisposed to the non-effusive form

(Foley & Pedersen 1996,Norris et al. 2005)

Musculoskeletal conditions

Burmese head defect

• Inherited as autosomal recessive
  
• Cats with shorter faces may be carriers
  
• Seen mainly in the USA

(Erdman 2005)

Flat-chested kittens

• Reported to affect 3–4% of Burmese kittens in the UK

(Sturgess et al. 1997)

Hypokalaemic polymyopathy

• Possibly inherited
  
• Signs occur from 4 to 12 months of age

(Mason 1988)

Neurological conditions

Congenital vestibular disease

• Signs seen <3 months

(Bagley 2005)

Feline hyperaesthesia syndrome

• Unknown aetiology
  
• May be due to a myopathy
  
• Mainly affects cats aged 5–8

(Tuttle 1980)

Feline orofacial pain syndrome

• Possible male predisposition
  
• Can affect any age
  
• Uncommon condition

(Heath & Rusbridge 2007)

Meningoencephalocoele

• See Burmese head defect (Musculoskeletal conditions)

Ocular conditions

Coloboma – eyelid

• Congenital

(Koch 1979)

Corneal dermoid

• Rare condition; familial incidence in this breed suspected

(Hendy-Ibbs 1985, Gelatt 2007)

Corneal sequestration

• Breed at increased risk

(Narfstr öm 1999b)

Glaucoma

• Possible predisposition to primary narrow angle glaucoma

(Hampson, Smith & Bernays 2002)

Lipaemia of the aqueous humour

• Young cats (5 months to 1 year)
  
• Seen in the UK, Australia and New Zealand

(Gunn-Moore & Crispin 1998)

Prolapse of the gland of the nictitating membrane

• Uncommon condition in the cat, reported most frequently in this breed
  
• Eversion of the cartilage of the nictitating membrane has occurred concurrently in this breed

(Chahory et al. 2004, Gelatt 2007)

Physiological conditions

Blood group

• In an Australian study, 93% of were type A, 3% were type B and 3% were type AB
  
• In an English study, 100% of this breed were type A

(Malik et al. 2005, Forcada, Guitian & Gibson 2007)

Renal and urinary conditions

Urolithiasis -– calcium oxalate

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Males reported to be more at risk than female, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be older (mean age 7.5 years)

(Thumchai et al. 1996, Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000)

Reproductive conditions

Litter size

• Produced larger litters in case series (mean 5.7 kittens)
  
• (Mean of 1056 litters from 14 breeds = 4.6 kittens)

(Sparkes et al. 2006)

Respiratory conditions

Agenesis of the nares

• Congenital
  
• Inherited
  
• Lethal to neonates
  
• Associated with numerous other congenital anomalies

(Noden & Evans 1986)

CHARTREAUX

Renal and urinary conditions

Urolithiasis – struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate)

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Females reported to bemore at risk thanmale, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be younger (mean age 5 years 9 months)

(Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000)

CORNISH AND DEVON REX

Cardiovascular conditions

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

• Common disease
  
• Middle-aged to older cats predisposed
  
• Males predisposed
  
• May be inherited in this breed

(Meurs 2003a)

Dermatological conditions

Malassezia dermatitis

• No age or sex predisposition
  
• Increased numbers of Malassezia organisms isolated in this breed from both seborrhoeic and healthy cats, compared to domestic shorthaired cats

(Ahman, Perrins & Bond 2007)

Urticaria pigmentosa

• Described in five cats of this breed

(Noli et al. 2004)

Haematological conditions

Vitamin K-dependent coagulopathy

• Prevalence unknown but may be uncommon
  
• Possibly inherited as an autosomal recessive trait

(Giger 2003)

Infectious conditions

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)

• Breed at increased risk in USA case series (Devon and Cornish) and Australian case series (Cornish only)
  
• Susceptibility to FIP may be partially inherited polygenically as suggested in one study of purebred catteries in the USA
  
• Increased risk 3 months to 3 years
  
• Males and sexually intact cats predisposed
  
• Cats in multicat environment at increased risk

(Foley & Pedersen 1996, Norris et al. 2005, Pesteanu-Somogyi, Radzai & Pressler 2006)

Infectious skin disease

• See under Dermatological conditions

Musculoskeletal conditions

Hereditary myopathy of Devon Rex cats

• Inherited as an autosomal recessive trait
  
• Rare
  
• Onset of signs at 1–6 months of age (Shelton 1999)

Patellar luxation

• Usually apparent at an early age
  
• Suspected to be hereditary

(Volk 2006)

Physiological conditions

Blood group

• In an Australian study, 45% of Devon Rexs were type A, 54% were type B and 1% were type AB

(Malik et al. 2005)

Coat

• Rex cats have short, curly or absent whiskers
  
• May moult during oestrus or pregnancy
  
• Coat quality is often poor

(Harvey 1998)

Reproductive conditions

Dystocia (Devon Rex)

• Breed at risk

(Gunn-Moore & Thrusfield 1995)

DOMESTIC LONGHAIRED

Cardiovascular conditions

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

• Common disease
  
• Middle-aged to older cats predisposed
  
• Males predisposed

(Fox 1999)

Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia

• Median age at presentation 54 months

(Reimer et al. 2004)

Dermatological conditions

Ehler–Danlos syndrome

• Also known as cutaneous asthenia
  
• Inherited group of diseases
  
• May be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait
  
• Probably lethal in homozygotes

(Scott, Miller & Griffin 2001d)

Skin tumours

• See under Neoplastic conditions

Neoplastic conditions

Basal cell tumour

• Breed at risk in some case series
  
• Risk increases with increasing age

(Diters &Walsh 1984, Goldschmidt & Shofer 1992, Thomas & Fox 1998)

Fibrosarcoma – cutaneous

• Breed at increased risk in case series

(Goldschmidt & Mcmanus 2000)

Neurological conditions

Lysosomal storage disease – α-mannosidosis

• Inheritance suspected
  
• Rare
  
• Signs seen at 6–12 months

(Dewey 2003a)

Physiological conditions

Blood group

• In an English study, 90% of this breed were type A, 10%were type B and 0%were type AB

(Forcada, Guitian & Gibson 2007)

Renal and urinary conditions

Urolithiasis – calcium oxalate

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Males reported to be more at risk than female, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be older (mean age 7.5 years)

(Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000, Cannon

et al. 2007)

Urolithiasis – struvite (magnesium

ammonium phosphate)

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Females reported to bemore at risk thanmale, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be younger (mean age 5 years 9 months)

(Houston et al. 2003, Cannon et al. 2007)

DOMESTIC SHORTHAIRED

Cardiovascular conditions

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

• Common disease
  
• Middle-aged to older cats predisposed
  
• Males predisposed

(Fox 1999)

Mucopolysaccharidosis I

• See Musculoskeletal conditions

Dermatological conditions

Ehler–Danlos syndrome

• Also known as cutaneous asthenia
  
• Inherited group of diseases
  
• May be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait
  
• Probably lethal in homozygotes

(Scott, Miller & Griffin 2001d)

Skin tumours

• See under Neoplastic conditions

Haematological/immunological conditions

Methaemoglobin reductase deficiency

• Inherited as an autosomal recessive trait
  
• Heterozygotes are asymptomatic

(Giger,Wang & Boyden 1999)

Pelger–Huet anomaly

• Inherited as an autosomal dominant trait
  
• Homozygous form is lethal
  
• Heterozygotes do not appear predisposed to infectious diseases

(Day 2002, Giger 2003)

Pyruvate kinase deficiency

• Inherited as an autosomal recessive trait
  
• Carriers are asymptomatic
  
• Causes severe anaemia
  
• Genetic test available (PennGen; Veterinary Genetics, UC Davis) – see Appendix

(Harvey 2006)

Musculoskeletal conditions

Mucopolysaccharidosis I

• Rare
  
• Skeletal, cardiac and ocular lesions seen
  
• Autosomal recessive inheritance
  
• See also Lysosomal storage diseases under Ocular conditions

(Wang et al. 2005)

Mucopolysaccharidosis VI

• Rare
  
• Genetic test available (PennGen) – see Appendix

Neoplastic conditions

Ceruminous gland tumours

• Breed at risk of ceruminous gland carcinoma in case series

(Goldschmidt & Mcmanus 2000)

Fibrosarcoma – cutaneous

• Breed at risk in case series

(Goldschmidt & Mcmanus 2000)

Squamous cell carcinoma

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Older cats affected
  
• 80% tumours occur on the head

(Goldschmidt & Mcmanus 2000)

Neurological conditions

Lysosomal storage disease – α-mannosidosis

• Suspected to be inherited
  
• Rare
  
• Signs seen around 7 months
  
• Genetic test available (PennGen) – see Appendix

(Bagley 2005)

Lysosomal storage disease – ceroid lipofuscinosis

• Suspected to be inherited
  
• Rare

(Bagley 2005)

Lysosomal storage disease – globoid cell leukodystrophy (Krabbe’s disease)

• Autosomal recessive inheritance
  
• Rare
  
• Signs seen at 6–12 months

(Bagley 2005)

Lysosomal storage disease – GM₁ gangliosidosis

• Autosomal recessive inheritance
  
• Rare
  
• Signs seen at 3–6 months
  
• Type 1 and type 2 disease seen in this breed

(Bagley 2005)

Lysosomal storage disease – mucolipidosis II

• Rare
  
• Genetic test available (PennGen) – see Appendix

(Bagley 2005)

Lysosomal storage disease – sphingomyelinosis (Niemann–Pick disease)

• Suspected to be inherited
  
• Rare
  
• Signs seen at 2–4 months

(Bagley 2005)

Mucopolysaccharidosis I

• See Musculoskeletal conditions

Ocular conditions

Corneal dermoid

• Rare condition; familial incidence in this breed suspected

(Hendy-Ibbs 1985, Gelatt 2007) Lysosomal storage diseases

• Rare, inheritance suspected
  
• Types affecting ocular tissues: GM₁ and GM₂ gangliosidosis, α-mannosidosis, mucopolysaccharidosis I
  
• See also under Neurological conditions

(Gelatt 2007)

Physiological conditions

Blood group

• In an English study, 65% of this breed were type A, 33%were type B and 2%were type AB

(Forcada, Guitian & Gibson 2007)

Hereditary porphyria

• Not usually associated with anaemia in this breed

(Giger 2002)

Renal and urinary conditions

Urolithiasis – struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate)

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Females reported to bemore at risk thanmale, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be younger (mean age 5 years 9 months)

(Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000, Houston et al. 2003)

Respiratory conditions

Nasopharyngeal polyps

• Common condition
  
• Usually diagnosed in young cats
  
• No sex predisposition
  
• 42/73 cats with this condition in one literature review were this breed

(Salisbury 2002)

EGYPTIAN MAU

Neurological conditions

Leukodystrophy

• Rare
  
• White matter primarily affected in this breed
  
• Clinical signs at 7 weeks

(Dewey 2003a)

EXOTIC SHORTHAIR

Renal and urinary conditions

Polycystic kidney disease

• Autosomal dominant inheritance
  
• Affected cases may present with renal failure from 2 to 3 years of age
  
• Some cases have liver cysts
  
• Genetic test available (AHT; Veterinary Genetics, UC Davis; Diagnostic laboratories, Langford) – see Appendix

(Cannon et al. 2001, Barthez, Rivier & Begon 2003, Young et al. 2005)

Urolithiasis – calcium oxalate

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Males reported to be more at risk than female, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be older (mean age 7.5 years)

(Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000)

FOREIGN SHORTHAIR

Renal and urinary conditions

Urolithiasis – calcium oxalate

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Males reported to be more at risk than female, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be older (mean age 7.5 years)

(Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000)

Urolithiasis – struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate)

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Females reported to bemore at risk thanmale, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be younger (mean age 5 years 9 months)

(Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000)

HAVANA BROWN

Dermatological conditions

Blastomycosis

• See under Infectious conditions

Infectious conditions

Blastomycosis

• Rare condition
  
• Breed at risk in US case series
  
• Young males predisposed

(Davies & Troy 1996)

Renal and urinary conditions

Urolithiasis – calcium oxalate

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Males reported to be more at risk than female, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be older (mean age 7.5 years)

(Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000)

HIMALAYAN

Cardiovascular conditions

Pericardial effusion

• Rare in cats
  
• This breed may be over-represented in case series

(Davidson et al. 2008)

Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia

• Median age at presentation 54 months

(Reimer et al. 2004)

Dermatological conditions

Cheyletiellosis

• Common condition

(Scott & Paradis 1990)

Dermatophytosis

• Common
  
• More commonly seen in cats less than 1 year

(Scott, Miller & Griffin 2001p)

Ehler–Danlos syndrome

• Also known as cutaneous asthenia
  
• Inherited group of diseases
  
• May be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait
  
• Probably lethal in homozygotes

(Scott, Miller & Griffin 2001d)

Facial fold intertrigo

• Occasionally seen in this breed

(Scott, Miller & Griffin 2001e)

Feline acromelanism

• Temperature-dependent enzyme involved in pathogenesis
  
• Causes points to develop

(Scott, Miller & Griffin 2001a)

Idiopathic facial dermatitis in Persians and Himalayans

• Uncommon
  
• Unknown cause; possibly genetic basis

(Hnilica 2003)

Skin tumours

• See under Neoplastic conditions

Endocrine conditions

Hyperthyroidism

• Breed at DECREASED risk in case series
  
• Common endocrinopathy in cats

(Kass et al. 1999)

Gastrointestinal conditions

Congenital portosystemic shunt

• Males may be predisposed
  
• High rate of cryptorchidism in affected males (24%)
  
• Usually extrahepatic

(Tillson &Winkler 2002, Ellison 2004, Hunt 2004)

Infectious conditions

Cryptococcosis

• Uncommon
  
• Breed at increased risk in Australian case series
  
• Young males predisposed

(O’Brien et al. 2004)

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)

• Breed at increased risk in US case series
  
• Susceptibility to FIP may be partially inherited polygenically as suggested in one study of purebred catteries in the USA
  
• Increased risk 3 months to 3 years
  
• Males and sexually intact cats predisposed
  
• Cats in multicat environment at increased risk

(Foley & Pedersen 1996, Pesteanu-Somogyi, Radzai & Pressler 2006)

Neoplastic conditions

Basal cell tumour

• Breed at risk in some case series
  
• Risk increases with increasing age

(Diters &Walsh 1984, Goldschmidt & Shofer 1992, Thomas & Fox 1998)

Neurological conditions

Feline hyperaesthesia syndrome

• Unknown aetiology
  
• May be due to a myopathy
  
• Mainly affects cats aged 5–8

(Tuttle 1980)

Ocular conditions

Corneal sequestration (see plate 24 in the colour plate section)

• Breed at increased risk

(Narfström 1999b)

Physiological conditions

Blood group

• In a US study, 80% were group A and 20% group B

(Giger, Bucheler & Patterson 1991)

Renal and urinary conditions

Urolithiasis – calcium oxalate

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Males reported to be more at risk than female, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be older (mean age 7.5 years)

(Thumchai et al. 1996, Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000, Houston et al. 2003, Cannon et al. 2007)

Urolithiasis – struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate)

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Females reported to bemore at risk thanmale, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be younger (mean age 5 years 9 months)

(Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000)

Reproductive conditions

Cryptorchidism

• Polygenic inheritance suspected

(Millis, Hauptman & Johnson 1992, Bruce 2001, Yates et al. 2003)

Respiratory conditions

Brachycephalic upper airway syndrome

• Complex of anatomical deformities
  
• Likely a consequence of selective breeding for certain facial characteristics

(Hedlund 2003)

Nasopharyngeal polyps

• Common condition
  
• Usually diagnosed in young cats
  
• No sex predisposition
  
• 5/73 cats with this condition in one literature review were this breed

(Salisbury 2002)

KORAT

Neurological conditions

Lissencephaly

• Rare developmental disease

(Bagley 2005)

Lysosomal storage disease – GM₁ and GM₂ gangliosidosis

• Autosomal recessive inheritance
  
• Rare
  
• Signs seen at 3–6 months
  
• Type 2 disease seen in this breed

(Bagley 2005)

Ocular conditions

Lysosomal storage diseases

• Rare, autosomal recessive inheritance
  
• Types affecting ocular tissues: GM₁ and GM₂ gangliosidosis
  
• See also under Neurological conditions

(Gelatt 2007)

Reproductive conditions

Gestation length

• Shorter gestation length in case series (63 days)
  
• (Mean of 1056 litters from 14 breeds = 65.1 days)
  
• Gestation lengths are shorter with larger litters but breed seems to exert an independent effect

(Sparkes et al. 2006)

Kitten birth weight

• Produced smaller kittens in case series (mean 72.7 g)
  
• (Mean of 1056 litters from 14 breeds = 93.5 g)
  
• Kitten birth weight tends to be lower with larger litters and shorter gestation length, but breed seems to exert an independent effect

(Sparkes et al. 2006)

MAINE COON

Cardiovascular conditions

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

• Common disease
  
• Middle-aged to older cats predisposed
  
• Males predisposed
  
• Inherited as an autosomal dominant trait in this breed
  
• Genetic test available (Veterinary Genetics, UC Davis; Diagnostic laboratories, Langford; Washington State University) – see Appendix

(Meurs 2003a)

Musculoskeletal conditions

Hip dysplasia

• One study showed 21% ofMaineCoon cats examined had radiographic evidence of hip dysplasia
  
• Heritability not known in cats

(Keller et al. 1999)

Neoplastic conditions

Cutaneous haemangiosarcoma

• Breed at increased risk in case series
  
• Older cats affected

(Goldschmidt & Mcmanus 2000)

Reproductive conditions

Kitten birth weight

• Produced larger kittens in case series (mean 116.1 g)
  
• (Mean of 1056 litters from 14 breeds = 93.5 g)
  
• Kitten birth weight tends to be lower with larger litters and shorter gestation length, but breed seems to exert an independent effect (Sparkes et al. 2006)

MANX

Dermatological conditions

Intertrigo

• Predisposed to rump fold intertrigo

(Scott, Miller & Griffin 2001e)

Gastrointestinal conditions

Faecal incontinence (part of Manx syndrome – sacrocaudal dysgenesis)

• Autosomal dominant inheritance of a mutant gene
  
• See also underMusculoskeletal conditions and Neurological conditions

(Leipold et al. 1974, Deforest & Basrur 1979)

Megacolon and constipation (part of Manx syndrome – sacrocaudal dysgenesis)

• Autosomal dominant inheritance of a mutant gene
  
• See also underMusculoskeletal conditions and Neurological conditions

(Leipold et al. 1974, Deforest & Basrur 1979)

Rectal prolapse (part of Manx syndrome – sacrocaudal dysgenesis)

• Autosomal dominant inheritance of a mutant gene
  
• See also underMusculoskeletal conditions and Neurological conditions

(Leipold et al. 1974, Deforest & Basrur 1979)

Musculoskeletal conditions

Sacrocaudal dysgenesis

• See under Neurological conditions

Neoplastic conditions

Cutaneous mast cell tumours

• Breed at increased risk in case series
  
• Predilection site: head

(Goldschmidt & Mcmanus 2000)

Neurological conditions

Sacrocaudal dysgenesis

• Congenital, autosomal dominant inheritance
  
• Relatively common in this breed

(Srenk 2002)

Spina bifida

• Congenital

(Sturges 2003a)

Ocular conditions

Corneal dystrophy

• Inheritance suspected
  
• Age of onset: 4 months. Progressive (Bistner, Aguirre & Shively 1976)

Renal and urinary conditions

Urinary incontinence (part of Manx syndrome – sacrocaudal dysgenesis)

• Autosomal dominant inheritance of a mutant gene

(Leipold et al. 1974, Deforest & Basrur 1979)

Urolithiasis – struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate)

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Females reported to bemore at risk thanmale, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be younger (mean age 5 years 9 months)

(Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000, Cannon et al. 2007)

NORWEGIAN FOREST

Neurological conditions

Glycogenosis (glycogen storage disease type 4)

• Autosomal recessive inheritance suspected
  
• Rare
  
• Age of clinical onset: < 6 months
  
• Genetic test available (PennGen) – see Appendix

(Bagley 2005)

Physiological conditions

Blood group

• In a US study, 100% of this breed were group A

(Giger, Bucheler & Patterson 1991)

ORIENTAL

Neoplastic conditions

Cutaneous mast cell tumours (Oriental

Shorthair)

• Breed at increased risk in case series
  
• Predilection site: head

(Goldschmidt & Mcmanus 2000)

Renal and urinary conditions

Urolithiasis – struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) (Oriental Shorthair)

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Females reported to bemore at risk thanmale, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be younger (mean age 5 years 9 months)

(Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000)

Reproductive conditions

Gestation length

• Longer gestation length in case series (66.2 days)
  
• (Mean of 1056 litters from 14 breeds = 65.1 days)
  
• Gestation lengths are shorter with larger litters but breed seems to exert an independent effect

(Sparkes et al. 2006)

PERSIAN

Cardiovascular conditions

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

• Common disease
  
• Middle-aged to older cats predisposed
  
• Males predisposed
  
• May be inherited in this breed

(Atkins 2002)

Pericardial effusion

• Rare in cats
  
• This breed may be over-represented in case series

(Davidson et al. 2008)

Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia

• Accounts for 0.5% of congenital heart disease but may be under-reported
  
• Females may be predisposed
  
• May be inherited as anautosomal recessive trait in cats

(Bonagura & Lehmkuhl 1999)

Dermatological conditions

Dermatophytosis

• Common
  
• This breed may develop dermatophytic pseudomycetoma characterized by one or more ulcerated and discharging nodules over the dorsal trunk or tail base

(Scott & Paradis 1990)

Chédiak–Higashi syndrome (Blue Smoke Persians only)

• See under Haematological conditions

Facial fold intertrigo

• Occasionally seen in this breed

(Scott, Miller & Griffin 2001e)

Idiopathic facial dermatitis in Persians and Himalayans

• Uncommon
  
• Unknown cause; possibly genetic basis

(Hnilica 2003)

Idiopathic periocular crusting

• May be associated with Malassezia or feline acne
  
• Uncommon

(Scott, Miller & Griffin 2001k)

Primary seborrhoea

• Rare in cats
  
• Autosomal recessive mode of inheritance

(Scott, Miller & Griffin 2001d)

Skin tumours

• See under Neoplastic conditions

Gastrointestinal conditions

Congenital portosystemic shunt

• Males may be predisposed
  
• High rate of cryptorchidism in affected males (24%)
  
• Usually extrahepatic

(Tillson &Winkler 2002, Ellison 2004, Hunt 2004)

Polycystic liver disease

• Autosomal dominant inheritance
  
• Associated with polycystic kidney disease (see under Renal and urinary conditions)

(Eaton et al. 1997, Bosie, van den Ingh & van der Linde-Sipman 1998)

Haematological/immunological conditions

Chédiak–Higashi syndrome (Blue Smoke Persians only)

• Autosomal recessive inheritance
  
• Abnormal lysosomes and neutrophil granules seen

(Giger 2003)

Susceptibility to dermatophytosis

• See Dermatological conditions

Infectious conditions

Histoplasmosis

• Rare
  
• Breed at risk in US case series

(Davies & Troy 1996)

Neoplastic conditions

Basal cell tumour

• Breed at risk in some case series
  
• Risk increases with increasing age
  
• This breedmay also be at increased risk of basal cell carcinoma

(Diters &Walsh 1984, Goldschmidt & Shofer 1992, Thomas & Fox 1998)

Sebaceous gland tumours

• Breed at risk of sebaceous adenoma in case series

(Goldschmidt & Mcmanus 2000)

Neurological conditions

Lysosomal storage disease – α-mannosidosis

• Inheritance suspected
  
• Rare
  
• Signs seen at 2–4 months
  
• Genetic test available (PennGen) – see Appendix

(Bagley 2005)

Ocular conditions

Cataract (seen with Chédiak–Higashi syndrome)

• Autosomal recessive inheritance

(Collier, Bryan & Prieur 1979)

Chédiak–Higashi syndrome (Blue Smoke Persians only)

• Autosomal recessive inheritance
  
• Ocular signs include hypopigmentation of fundus and iris, nystagmus and cataracts
  
• See also under Haematological conditions

(Collier, Bryan & Prieur 1979)

Coloboma – eyelid

• Congenital

(Belhorn, Barnett & Henkind 1971)

Corneal sequestration

• Breed at increased risk

(Narfström 1999b, Featherstone & Sansom 2004)

Entropion

• Inheritance suspected

(Narfström 1999b)

Idiopathic epiphora

• Breed predisposition relating to head and eyelid shape

(Gelatt 2007)

Lysosomal storage diseases

• Rare, inheritance suspected
  
• Types affecting ocular tissues: α-mannosidosis
  
• See also under Neurological conditions

(Gelatt 2007)

Progressive retinal atrophy – early onset retinal degeneration

• Autosomal recessive inheritance
  
• Clinical signs at 2–3 weeks, blindness at 16 weeks

(Rah et al. 2005)

Physiological conditions

Blood group

• In Portugal, 86% of purebred Persian cats were group A and 14%were group B
  
• In an Australian study, 67% of this breed were type A, 22% were type B and11% were type AB
  
• In an English study, 80% of this breed were type A, 20%were type B and 0%were type AB

(Silvestre-Ferreira et al. 2004, Malik et al. 2005, Forcada, Guitian & Gibson 2007)

Spearing/lancing canines

• Maxillary teeth tipped rostrally by the mandibular canines

(Holmstom 2001)

Renal and urinary conditions

Feline idiopathic cystitis

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Neutered males at greater risk
  
• Mean age 4 years 11 months

(Gunn-Moore 2003, Cameron et al. 2004)

Polycystic kidney disease (see plate 25 in the colour plate section)

• Autosomal dominant inheritance
  
• Estimated 38% of Persian cats affected worldwide
  
• Affected cases may present with renal failure from 2 to 3 years of age
  
• Some cases have liver cysts
  
• Genetic test available (AHT; Veterinary Genetics, UC Davis; Diagnostic laboratories, Langford) – see Appendix

(Cannon et al. 2001, Barthez, Rivier & Begon 2003, Young et al. 2005)

Urolithiasis – calcium oxalate

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Males reported to be more at risk than female, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be older (mean age 7.5 years)

(Thumchai et al. 1996, Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000, Houston et al. 2003, Cannon et al. 2007)

Reproductive conditions

Cryptorchidism

• Polygenic inheritance suspected

(Millis, Hauptman & Johnson 1992, Bruce 2001, Yates et al. 2003)

Dystocia

• Breed at increased risk in case series

(Ekstrand & Linde-Forsburg 1994, Gunn-Moore & Thrusfield 1995)

Litter size

• Produced smaller litters in case series (mean 3.8 kittens)

(Mean of 1056 litters from 14 breeds = 4.6 kittens)

(Sparkes et al. 2006)

Stillbirths and neonatal deaths

• Lower percentage of kittens born alive in case series (89.2%)

(Mean of 1056 litters from 14 breeds = 92.8%)

• This breed also have a higher number of kitten deaths in the first 8 weeks

(Sparkes et al. 2006)

Respiratory conditions

Nasopharyngeal polyps

• Common condition
  
• Usually diagnosed in young cats
  
• No sex predisposition
  
• 7/73 cats with this condition in one literature review were this breed

(Salisbury 2002)

RAGDOLL

Cardiovascular conditions

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

• Common disease
  
• Middle-aged to older cats predisposed
  
• Males predisposed
  
• May be inherited in this breed
  
• This breed may be affected severely and at a very young age
  
• Genetic test available (Veterinary Genetics, UC Davis; Diagnostic laboratories, Langford; Washington State University) – see Appendix

(Meurs 2003a)

Infectious conditions

Cryptococcosis

• Uncommon
  
• Breed at increased risk in Australian case series
  
• Young males predisposed

(O’Brien et al. 2004)

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)

• Breed at increased risk in US case series
  
• Susceptibility to FIP may be partially inherited polygenically as suggested in one study of purebred catteries in the USA
  
• Increased risk 3 months to 3 years
  
• Males and sexually intact cats predisposed
  
• Cats in multicat environment at increased risk

(Foley & Pedersen 1996, Pesteanu-Somogyi, Radzai & Pressler 2006)

Neoplastic conditions

Basal cell tumour

• Breed at risk of basal cell carcinoma in case series

(Goldschmidt & McManus 2000)

Renal and urinary conditions

Urolithiasis – calcium oxalate

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Males reported to be more at risk than female, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be older (mean age 7.5 years)

(Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000)

Urolithiasis – struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) (see plate 26 in the colour plate section)

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Females reported to bemore at risk than males, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be younger (mean age 5 years 9 months)

(Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000)

RUSSIAN BLUE

Renal and urinary conditions

Urolithiasis – urocystoliths

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Type of urolith not specified

(Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000)

SCOTTISH FOLD

Musculoskeletal conditions

Arthropathy associated with Scottish Fold cats

• Autosomal incomplete dominant inheritance
  
• Causes osteochondrodysplasia

(Takanosu et al. 2008)

Physiological conditions

Blood group

• In a US study 85% reported as group A, 15% as group B

(Giger, Bucheler & Patterson 1991)

Renal and urinary conditions

Urolithiasis – calcium oxalate (see figure23)

• Breed at risk in case series
  
• Males reported to bemore at risk than females, neutered cats at greater risk than entire
  
• Tend to be older (mean age 7.5 years)

(Lekcharoensuk et al. 2000)

SIAMESE

Cardiovascular conditions

Dilated cardiomyopathy

• Less common than in the past
  
• Taurine deficiency is an important aetiological factor
  
• Genetic factors may influence susceptibility to disease
  
• Males predisposed

(Fox 1999)

Endocardial fibroelastosis

• Age of onset: < 6 months
  
• May be familial in this breed

(Bonagura & Lehmkuhl 1999)

Persistent atrial standstill

• Uncommon disease
  
• Marked predisposition in this breed

(Liu & Fox 1999)

Dermatological conditions

Aguirre syndrome

• Unilateral periocular depigmentation
  
• May be associated with Horner’s syndrome, corneal necrosis and upper respiratory tract infection

(Scott, Miller & Griffin 2001a)

Blastomycosis

• See under Infectious conditions

Congenital hypotrichosis

• Rare
  
• Autosomal recessive inheritance

(Scott, Miller & Griffin 2001d)

Figure 23 Pneumocystogram of a 4-year-old neutered male Domestic Shorthaired cat showing the presence of radiodense calcium oxalate calculi.

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