PK Deficiency

Tags: PK Deficiency, Health Problems, Health

 

One of the most common clinical disorders in cats is anemia. Anemia is a condition where there are reduced numbers of red bloods cells (erythrocytes) present in the hemoglobin. This condition is quite common in animals. There are many causes for anemia ranging from blood loss, intoxication, infections, immune system disorders, to organ failures all of which represent the key causes of anemia.

There are also genetic blood disorders that can cause anemia as well. Erythrocyte pyruvate kinase deficiency is a less frequent but important cause of anemia effecting felines. This deficiency is also present in certain breeds of dogs such as dachshunds, beagles, eskimo dogs, basenjis and highland white terriers. Dogs will expire by the age of four because of contracting the disease, but cats live a normal life span and only periodically contract the disease throughout their lifespan. Unlike dogs they do not suffer from osteosclerosis, or organ failure.

Cats with Erythrocyte pyruvate disease are found in both North and South America at present. There is no research to indicate that they are elsewhere, but the probability is that this disease is not isolated to these two continents.

The primary function for the Erythrocyte pyruvate enzymes is to metabolize sugar in the feline body. Since sugar is responsible for producing energy, when these enzymes fail to do their job, red blood cells are destabilized and anemia occurs.

Somalis, Abyssinians and short hair domestic cats are the breeds that seen to be most susceptible to this disease.

Erythrocyte pyruvate is an autosomal recessive genetic disease which can be passed down through family bloodlines. In order for a cat to have this inherited disease, it must have two mutated genes. If there is only one mutated gene the cat will be a carrier. It will not have the disease, only the ability to pass it on to his or her offspring.

There is no definable age for the condition to appear, cats as young as six months or as old as 12 years old have contracted the disease. Despite the causal relationship at the genetic level, it is possible that the Erythrocyte pyruvate might be linked to external environmental factors as well.

Symptoms

Felines can have a multitude of symptoms but not all cats will necessarily have the same ones. Some cats will experience weakness or lethargy (drowsiness, sluggish, unenergetic listless, restless, or indifferent apathetic or lazy behavior).

Other cats might lose their appetite and suffer from subsequent weight loses. Still others may end up with extended bellies because of splenomegaly (enlarged spleen).

What experts have found through testing is that some Somalis, and Abyssinians cats who have never showed signs of anemia have the PK disease. They feel that these felines may have had anemia in the past, but more research into the causes of Erythrocyte Pyruvate still have to be done to amply address these findings.

When to Test

You will want to test your cat before breeding in order to curtail the possibility of the disease being passed on to the offspring. Testing is not necessary if you already know that your cat's parentage is PK free.

You will want to advise the owners of relatives of your cat to test as well, since PK is an inherited genetic disease.

If your cat's parents were carriers of PK you will want to make sure and have it tested.

If you are an owner of the domestic shorthair, Abyssinian, or Somali, do not wait until symptoms appear. These felines have a predisposition towards Erythrocyte Pyruvate deficiency therefore, you should have them tested right away. A simple blood sample can be taken to determine the levels of EDTA anticoagulant blood and determine if the disease is present. You cat's blood sample will be shipped off for laboratory testing and the results can be mailed back to you or your veterinarian. Your veterinarian is there to further assist you with questions and concerns about the health of your cat when the results are in.

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