Scarily Good Deals! Save up to 30%

Shop now

Glycogen Storage Disease (Discovered in the Norwegian Forest Cat)

Glycogen Storage Disease results in low blood sugar levels leaving kittens and young cats weak. The condition leads to muscle wasting, seizures and cardiac failure.

Key Signs

Stillbirth, Neonatal death, Hyperthermia, Muscle tremors, Muscle wasting, Seizures, Weakness, Cardiac failure

Age of Onset

At birth

Present at birth

Inheritance

Autosomal Recessive

For autosomal recessive disorders, cats with two copies of the variant are at risk of developing the condition. Cats with one copy of the variant are considered carriers and are usually not at risk of developing the disorder. However, carriers of some complex variants grouped in this category may be associated with a low risk of developing the disorder. Individuals with one or two copies may pass the disorder-associated variant to their kittens if bred.

Likelihood of the Condition

High likelihood

At risk cats are highly likely to show signs of this disease in their lifetime.

What to Do

Here’s how to care for a cat with GSD

Partner with your veterinarian to make a plan regarding your cat’s well-being, including any insights provided through genetic testing. If your pet is at risk or is showing signs of this disorder, then the first step is to speak with your veterinarian.

For Veterinarians

Here’s what a vet needs to know about GSD

Glycogen Storage Disease (Discovered in the Norwegian Forest Cat) is caused by a deficiency of a glycogen branching enzyme (GBE). The disease leads to excessive glycogen accumulation in muscle cells, liver cells, and neurons and impairment of endogenous glucose production. Abnormal function of these cells leads to severe organ dysfunctions. Most affected kittens die at birth or soon after birth due to profound glucose deficiency. Kittens surviving the postnatal period seem clinically normal until roughly five months of age, when progressive neuromuscular and cardiac degeneration occurs. The condition leads to severe organ dysfunctions before one year of age with skeletal muscle atrophy, tetraparesis, severe cardiac problems, persistent hyperthermia, tremors, and seizures.

Most kittens do not survive the immediate postnatal period. Ensuring adequate glucose intake is essential for affected kittens. The kittens that survive the first few days of life tend to have progression of clinical signs after five months of age, and affected cats are usually euthanized on welfare grounds by one year of age.

For Breeders

Planning to breed a cat with this genetic variant?

There are many responsibilities to consider when breeding cats. Regardless of test results it is important that your cat is in good general health and that you are in a position to care for the kittens if new responsible owners are not found. For first time or novice breeders, advice can be found at most cat registry websites.

This disease is autosomal recessive meaning that two copies of the mutation are needed for disease signs to be shown. A carrier cat with one copy of the GSD mutation can be safely bred with a clear cat with no copies of the GSD mutation. About half of the kittens will have one copy (carriers) and half will have no copies of the GSD mutation. Kittens in a litter which is expected to contain carriers should be tested prior to breeding. Carrier to carrier matings are not advised as the resulting litter may contain affected kittens. Please note: It is possible that disease signs similar to the ones caused by the GSD mutation could develop due to a different genetic or clinical cause.

Technical Details

Gene GBE1
Variant Insertion
Chromosome C2
Coordinate Start 34,744,477
Coordinate End 34,781,895

All coordinates reference FelCat9.0

We’ve spent the past 20+ years devoted to DNA. Our team of scientists and vets have spent decades developing the most accurate pet DNA test. Because every pet deserves to have their whole story told. We’ve collaborated with leading academic institutions, innovative research labs, and Banfield Pet Hospital™ to make our process exceptionally precise, fast, and affordable.

References & Credit

Credit to our scientific colleagues:

Fyfe, J. C., Kurzhals, R. L., Hawkins, M. G., Wang, P., Yuhki, N., Giger, U., Van Winkle, T. J., Haskins, M. E., Patterson, D. F., & Henthorn, P. S. (2007). A complex rearrangement in GBE1 causes both perinatal hypoglycemic collapse and late-juvenile-onset neuromuscular degeneration in glycogen storage disease type IV of Norwegian forest cats. In Mol Genet Metab (Vol. 90, Issue 4). View the article