Animal Molecular Breeding 2024, Vol.14, No.4, 280-287 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/amb 282 4 Current Breeding Approaches for Hypoallergenic Cats 4.1 Selective breeding for hypoallergenic traits Selective breeding for hypoallergenic traits in cats primarily aims to reduce the production of allergenic proteins, particularly Fel d 1, which is the most common allergen responsible for allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Fel d 1 is produced in the cat's saliva, sebaceous glands, and skin, and it spreads through grooming, making it a major source of allergens in the home environment. Breeders focus on selecting cats that naturally produce lower levels of Fel d 1, as well as other allergens like Fel d 2 and Fel d 4, which are found in the cat’s skin and hair follicles. Advances in genetic testing have enabled breeders to identify specific genetic markers associated with reduced allergen production, facilitating more targeted and effective breeding strategies. By selecting breeding pairs that exhibit lower allergen levels, breeders can enhance these traits in subsequent generations, though achieving a truly hypoallergenic cat requires a delicate balance of genetics, environment, and care practices (Figure 1) (Thoms et al., 2019; Brackett et al., 2022; Lee et al., 2023). Figure 1 Comparative sequence analysis of exotic cat Fel d 1 orthologs (Adopted from Brackett et al., 2022) Image caption: Fel d 1 orthologous sequences from 24 exotic cats, representing eight felid species, were analyzed. (A) Approximate evolutionary timeline of the domestic and exotic cats.38 (B) Amino acid sequences of Fel d 1 chains 1 and 2. The species (color) and percentage (font size) of exotic cats with sequence variants at a given amino acid residue were determined. Corresponding domestic cat variants are indicated; (C) Mean sequence identities of domestic and exotic cat species following pairwise alignments with the GenBank DNA or protein Fel d 1 references. Data represent the mean-standard error of the mean (SEM; 50 domestic cats, 3 cats per exotic species). Color-coded species legend (bottom right) corresponds to panels (A), (B), and (C) (Adopted from Brackett et al., 2022) 4.2 Case study: the development of the siberian cat as a hypoallergenic breed The Siberian cat serves as a successful example of selective breeding for hypoallergenic traits. Native to Russia, the Siberian breed is known for producing significantly lower levels of Fel d 1 compared to many other cat breeds, making it an attractive option for allergic individuals. This breed’s hypoallergenic characteristic is believed to be an innate trait, with several studies confirming that Siberian cats consistently show reduced allergen production. Selective breeding within the Siberian breed has focused on preserving this low allergen trait while maintaining
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