our goal is to eliminate pectus excavatum in the cat population
using the power of modern genomics for discovery
our goal is to eliminate pectus excavatum in the cat population
using the power of modern genomics for discovery
genomics of feline pectus excavatum
About This Condition
Pectus excavatum, Latin for “hollow breast,” is a thoracic deformity where the rib cartilage and chest do not form correctly during development, and may overlap with flat-chested kitten syndrome. The result is a sunken chest wall from the third to fifth rib to the tip of the sternum. The abnormally shaped chest shifts the heart to the left side, causing squeezing of the heart. Parts of the lungs are also squeezed, resulting in decreased lung function.
Although kittens are born with this defect, clinical symptoms are not always noticed right away. Mild symptoms can worsen as the kitten grows, but once growth is done, any symptoms already present tend to settle at a certain level. In severe cases, breathing or heart problems can occur from a very young age.
The only corrective action for pectus excavatum is expensive surgery.
The goal of this study is to understand the genetic component of this rare but severely debilitating disease.
What We Need
To participate in this study, an animal needs a definitive clinical diagnosis of pectus excavatum, as well as radiography that demonstrate the severity of the condition to help us measure the changes to the chest wall.
The only sample required is a 1-2mL blood sample that can be obtained at your local veterinary clinic. If this is not possible, we can accept cheek swabs, however the contamination in these types of samples may obscure the discovery portion of this project so we would only use them for validation.
Sample kits can be sent to prospective participants. Owners and veterinarians interested in collaborating with us on this study can contact us any time.
Our Team
Dr. Brian W Davis leads the Evolutionary Medicine Lab at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. One primary goal of his lab is to identify genetic mutations that cause disease in companion, agricultural, and wild animals. Armed with this information, responsible owners and managers can identify animals carrying these and make informed breeding decisions.
This study is one of many ongoing genomics projects that undergraduate and graduate students participate in to solve veterinary disease problems.
Melanie Barbee is the lead graduate student on this project and will use her passion for cats and skills as a computational biologist to find answers.