Testing for Burmese GM2
In order to avoid getting affected kittens, and to eventually eliminate the GM2 mutation from the Burmese breed, we need to DNA test all breeding cats. By DNA testing we can also find the healthy carriers that could pass on the disease to their offspring if they are bred to another carrier.
Of course a cat must be tested only once in his life and you don't need to test descendants from healthy (homozygous normal) parents if you are definitely sure of the pedigree.
How do I test my cats?
A blood sample for the DNA test is obtained by your veterinary, 1 cc (= 1 ml) EDTA blood is needed. The veterinary should fill in the sampling form with info on owner and the identification of the animal. The form and the sample are then sent to the laboratory. You also have to make a bank transfer for the payment. Then you will receive the results in a few weeks.
Making the result public on PawPeds
in order to have your cat's result registered in the health programme, you have to send in a copy of the result to the registrar.
Two labs performing the test for GM2 in Burmeses:
- Scott-Ritchey Research Center (USA)
College of Veterinary Medicine
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama 36849
Phone: (334) 844-5951
Download form.
If you don't live in the USA you will also need to download guidelines and declaration for custom, both of which should be attached outside the envelope with the blood sample.
Payment for this test could be done through Worldwide European Burmese Society by PayPal - send 50 USD to euroburmese@yahoo.com
This lab do tests of offspring of known carriers for free, if the carrier was tested by them! - Laboklin (Germany)
Steubenstraße 4
D - 97688 Bad Kissingen
Germany
Phone: +49 / 971-7202-0, Fax: 0049/ 971-68546
www.labogen.com
Help!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the contact persons for the health programme!