Based on all available information, not many Persian catteries of any size have zero positives, at least unless they've already tested and eliminated positives from their breeding program. So if "unscathed" means "no PKD positives", the answer is that not many catteries are unscathed. And because we've never been able to identify PKD positives before, the only reason any cattery would be unscathed is pure, blind luck.

Why? Because PKD is a genetic disease, not a communicable disease. So any cattery lucky enough to have only PKD negative foundation stock AND never bring in a PKD positive cannot produce PKD positive cats, and thus will be a PKD free cattery.

PKD expresses itself differently in each cat. And, based on the best information available, it appears that most PKD positive cats die from other reasons -- not from End Stage Renal Failure resulting from PKD. So it is entirely possible to have PKD positives and never have a cat exhibit the signs of renal failure, much less die from PKD. PKD can only be detected by ultrasound or necropsy. Most if not all PKD cases would be picked up on necropsy with histopathology, if that were routinely done.

There's a useful web site which reports statistics on PKD testing to date. Although I'm sure there are many catteries who, for one reason or another, have chosen not to report their results, I find this the best source of information currently available. Taking the stats for US Catteries through 10/8/98 and using MS Excel to manipulate the data, I came up with the following information: Slightly less than one half of the US cats tested are included in the Cattery stats (1547 vs.

PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) is a progressive, genetic disease of the kidneys. It occurs in humans, cats, dogs, and other animals. PKD is characterized by the presence of multiple cysts in each Kidney (i.e, bilateral). (See also Is a Single Cyst in One Kidney Conclusive for PKD? and Can Kidney Cysts be Caused by Something Other Than PKD?, below). Research at Ohio State University conducted by Dr.

In humans, there are two modes of inheritance: autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive (with at least two, and possibly three different autosomal dominant forms of PKD caused by different genes at different loci). To date, only the autosomal dominant form has been identified in cats. To quote Dr. DiBartola, Professor of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and Co-Editor of the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (one of the Dr.

Currently, the best method to diagnose PKD in living cats is by ultrasounding the kidneys. Other radiological modalities have been used, but have proven to be generally less accurate and more costly. However, even the most skilled sonographer using the best equipment cannot be 100 percent accurate in diagnosing PKD via ultrasound, since the resolution afforded by ultrasound is not sufficient to detect very small cysts.

PKD itself has no symptoms. Only when PKD has progressed to the point of causing renal failure will symptoms occur, and those symptoms will be those associated with renal failure, and not PKD specific. quot;Many cats with PKD will never develop kidney failure so they will have no physical symptoms at all. Their routine blood tests will be normal. Other cats will develop kidney failure, depending on the severity of their disease and how rapidly the cysts grow.

To date, there is no proof whether PKD positive homozygotes (PP) exist or not. We may not know the answer to this question until a DNA test is available and that test has been used on a significant number of PKD positive cats. quot;In all likelihood, the homozygous state (PP) for ADPKD probably is not viable.

Based on Dr. Biller's research, and reports from more than 5,000 ultrasounds worldwide since April, 1998, PKD does not appear to be sex linked. Therefore, males and females can both have PKD, and can both pass PKD on to their offspring.

No. Although PKD appears to be more prevalent among Persians (including Himalayans) and Exotics, ultrasound results to date have also found PKD in American Curls, American Shorthairs, Siamese and Scottish Folds, as well as Household Pets, Domestic Shorthairs, and Feral cats. An Oriental Shorthair was also diagnosed with PKD as the result of a necropsy.

Although anyone with access to ultrasound equipment and minimal knowledge of ultrasound can do the testing, the quality and accuracy of the test results appear to be directly proportional to the skill, training, and experience of the sonographer doing the testing. Ultrasound testing can be expensive (as high as $275 US per cat in some private practices, and $25 to $50 US per cat in special PKD "Clinics").

Yes. However, cysts in non-Persian cats are relatively rare, regardless of the cause. So the current theory is that almost all cysts found in Persians and related breeds will be PKD cysts. Dr. Biller will be conducting research to help establish exactly how frequently cysts are found in non-persian cats. This study should help us understand the frequency of non-PKD kidney cysts in Persians, and possibly even provide clues about how they can be differentiated from PKD cysts using ultrasound.

No, at least not in Persians. PKD positives have been found in virtually all major lines of Persians. However, it is at least possible that a few lines with very small gene pools, particularly if they are not descended from the hand-full of pre-potent cats upon which many of today's Persians owe their lineage, may not have PKD in those lines. However, it is also important to note that virtually all major lines of Persians have PKD negative cats too.

No. All evidence to date suggests that there is no relationship between a cat's color and the presence or frequency of PKD.

If a normal cat lived forever, PKD cats would eventually progress to the point where renal failure occurs, and would eventually die of renal failure. However, in real life, it is believed that most PKD cats actually die from something other than renal failure due to PKD. So the practical answer to this question is no, most PKD positive cats will not die from PKD. However, as Dr. DiBartola notes in a private e-mail, in the Ohio study he and Dr.

There is currently no known cure for PKD, in cats or in humans. While a Kidney Transplant may eliminate the cysts and allow a particular individual to live symptom free, the underlying genetic makeup for that individual is still one of a PKD positive, and that individual can still pass the disease on to its offspring. Similarly, dialysis can replace the function of failed kidneys, but does not change the underlying disease state.

That depends upon the extent that you want to understand PKD. At the lowest level -- that PKD is an inherited disease that can be largely eliminated by ultrasounding breeding stock and removing positives from your breeding program -- there's probably no need to understand genetics. However, if you're the type of person who wants to understand as much about PKD as possible, then you will need to understand the genetic terminology that frequents discussions about PKD.

No. By definition, PKD is a genetic disease (see What Is PKD?, above). In addition, there is no evidence I've seen or heard of that even links food additives, the environment, or anything else to the growth rate of PKD cysts or the severity of PKD.

Like Radar and Sonar, Ultrasound uses the echoes of sound waves to produce images. In the case of Ultrasound, these sound waves are transmitted through a transducer, and partially reflected back to the transducer by the body's tissue. Human hearing is typically in the frequency range under 18,000 Hz (18 kHz). Bats and whales use frequencies in the range of 100 kHz. In contrast, Ultrasound uses frequencies above 1 MHz (1,000,000 Hz).

Absent any other information, the classic answer is "no, PKD is bilateral and requires multiple cysts". However, evidence suggests that cysts from other causes are relatively rare.

Not necessarily, although I guess the answer depends in part on how each breeder defines "Problem". Some would say that producing any PKD positive cats is a problem. Others would argue that PKD is really only a problem if cats are dying from PKD. Of course, then the question becomes "How many have to die before it becomes a problem?" I'm not sure that question can be answered except by each individual. I'm not even sure I can answer that for myself.

I'm not aware of any evidence that spaying or neutering would put a PKD positive cat at any more risk than any other cat, unless the cat was already in kidney failure. However, since certain anesthesia agents can be nephrotoxic, in my opinion it would be best not to use these agents in any cat with known kidney problems, including PKD. quot;I cannot see how spaying would have any effect, positive or negative, on the progression of PKD.

quot;… a few cats with PKD also have cysts elsewhere, such as in the liver and the reproductive tract. Livers can have cystic disease that is not related to PKD." Researching PKD on the web, I have seen references to human PKD being linked to both cysts in other organs and to a certain type of cerebral aneurysm. However, so far, I haven't seen any indication that similar links have been established for feline PKD.

The information will help ALL types of catteries: boarding, rescue, quarantine, veterinary, pet and breeders. Mostly though, our customers are caring people interested in boarding catteries in particular as they need to 'make a living' from caring for cats (thanks to the very high cost of property/ land today!) Many cat carers are interested in opening a rescue but it is just not financially possible as it's hugely expensive) so we provide a lot of help for potential/new boarding cattery owners.

Studs: If your cattery is listed in our Breeders section you can have up to 4 OPEN studs. Only full pedigree (Registered prefix) catteries can advertise open studs on this site. Sorry, no 'closed studs' allowed. Adverts: Any member with a 'user login' (account) can have up to 3 different for sale/wanted adverts at any one time. That's not 3 for sale and 3 wanted but 3 in total. You can only add studs once you have registered your cattery. Then the stud facility will appear in your account.

The only thing that affects the number of PKD Positives in any particular breeding program are the number: The number of PKD positives cats you've purchased or otherwise acquired over the years that are still in your breeding program. Whether any positives are homozygous or heterozygous. (Note that homozygous positives may not exist ex utero, or may not survive until breeding age.

When will PKD treatment be available? -- Samantha (finally someone else my age!), 20:27:53 10/19/07 Fri I am 38 and just found out that I have PDK. I am one of the lucky ones that has no family history and had a gene mutate. I am trying tolearn all I can about PDK. The Dr I was refered to doesn't know that much about PKD.If anyones knows where I can find a GREAT DR please let me knoww. I live in WV and am willing to travel to find the care and treatments that I need. Thanks for all your time.

My name is Tim. Iam 37 years old and was diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago with PKD. At the time I was having problems with kidney stones and that was when the cysts were found. My GP has never treated anyone with PKD. So he and I both have had to use the net to get information. There are no other doctors in my area with any more knowlege than he has on this subject. When first diagnosed my kidney function was normal and the stones were the cause of my pain.