Abstract
BackgroundThis paper reports the significant prevalence of a presumed hereditary cataract in the Bengal cat breed in Poland. The nuclear part of the lens is affected and previous reports from Sweden and France for this type of feline cataract suggest that a recessive mode of inheritance is probably involved.ResultsPresumed congenital or neonatal cataract involving the posterior nuclear part of each lens was initially diagnosed in a 12 month old male Bengal cat. As both parents and a sibling were also affected with cataract, a group of 18 related and 11 non-related cats was then subsequently examined. Eight related cats and one non-related cat were found to be similarly affected. A breed survey was then completed using an additional five centres across Poland and a further 190 related cats were examined. A total of 223 cats have been involved in this study, with 75 (33%) being affected with several types of cataract and 67 (30%) being specifically affected with the same or similar nuclear lesions. Eight cats (3.6%) presented with other cataract types and a prominence of the posterior lens suture lines was recorded in 65 cats unaffected with cataract (29%). There were no demonstrable vision problems. Neither age nor coat colour was significantly associated with the nuclear cataract, but the nuclear cataract group had a higher proportion of females than the unaffected group. Pedigree analysis has indicated probable inheritance as a recessive trait.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that a presumably inherited nuclear cataract is present in the Bengal cat breed in Poland. It is considered to be either congenital or of very early onset, probably being inherited as a recessive trait. Although the lesion has no noticeable effect on vision, breeders in Poland and worldwide should be aware of the disease and clinical examination of young breeding stock prior to reproduction is advisable.
Highlights
This paper reports the significant prevalence of a presumed hereditary cataract in the Bengal cat breed in Poland
The initial cataract diagnosis was made in a 12 month old entire pet male Bengal cat in the city of Wroclaw
A diagnosis of bilateral nuclear cataract with posterior cortical opacities was made and both fundi were seen to be normal. As both parents and a solitary male sibling were present in the same household these were examined: both parents were found to be affected with nuclear cataract with minimal posterior cortical involvement and the sibling with minimal anterior and posterior cortical cataract
Summary
This paper reports the significant prevalence of a presumed hereditary cataract in the Bengal cat breed in Poland. The nuclear part of the lens is affected and previous reports from Sweden and France for this type of feline cataract suggest that a recessive mode of inheritance is probably involved. The Bengal cat breed found its origin in the USA as the result of crossing the Asian Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) with a domestic cat breed (Felis Sylvestris catus), the purpose being to combine its unique physical appearance with the amenable character of a domesticated breed. The Bengal cat is generally recognised as a very popular feline breed worldwide and it is enjoying its relatively recent introduction into Poland, with. Hereditary cataract would appear to be rare in cats, most reports describing mainly posterior nuclear and cortical lesions thought to be congenital or early onset in origin. A congenital cataract has been noted in the feline Chediak-Higashi syndrome [22]
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