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Information For Owners and Breeders

Update on pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK Def) testing in Bengals

 

  • Tel: 0117 928 9412
  • Fax: 0117 928 9613

 

 

PK Def in the Bengal breed: test results to date

More information about PK Def for Bengal and Singapura breeders can be found here

Below is a summary of the number of Bengals we have tested for PK Def so far.

These figures will be updated regularly as we test more Bengals for PK Def.

 

MaleFemaleTotal
Number of Bengals tested for PK Def 3856571042
Number not affected (Normal) 261 (68%)461 (70%)722 (69%)
Number of carriers (Heterozygous) 113 (29%)185 (28%)298 (29%)
Number affected (Homozygous) 11 (3%)11 (2%)22 (2%)

 

Personal communication with Prof. Leslie Lyons at the University of California, USA shows that 74% of Bengals tested in the USA (VGL, Davis) did not have PK Def, 24% were carriers of PK Def and 2% were affected by PK Def.

Interpretation of results

A Normal PK Def genetic test result means that the cat does not have the genetic mutation causing PK Def.

A Heterozygous (carrier) PK Def genetic test result means that the cat has one copy of the mutation. The cat will not have PK Def, but may pass the mutation to their offspring.

A Homozygous (affected) PK Def genetic test result means that the cat has two copies of the mutation. The cat will have PK Def.