Factors associated with fruit and vegetable consumption among Burmese refugees.

OBJECTIVE: The Burmese population is one of the fast-growing refugee populations in the USA. This study investigated behavioural and environmental factors associated with fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption among Burmese refugees. DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional interview survey in 2018-2019. The 24-h recall was used to assess dietary behaviour. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed with meeting the daily FV consumption recommendation (two or more servings of fruits and three or more servings of vegetables) as the outcome variable. We selected socio-economics, nutritional knowledge, food shopping frequency, ethnicity of preferred food store owners, perceived neighbourhood food environment and network distance to preferred food stores as potential explanatory variables. SETTING: Two Upstate New York counties. PARTICIPANTS: Burmese refugees (n 173) aged ≥18 years. RESULTS: Forty-five percentage of respondents met the daily FV consumption recommendation, and nearly all respondents identified ethnic (Burmese, Chinese/pan-Asian, or South Asian/halal) stores as their preferred stores to purchase FV. In the best-fit model, age (OR 1·08, 95 % CI (1·04, 1·12)) and shopping frequency (OR 1·51, 95 % CI (1·01, 2·26)) were positively associated, and network distance to preferred stores in kilometres (OR 0·81, 95 % CI (0·73, 0·90)) was negatively associated with meeting the daily FV consumption recommendation. No significant effect modifications by car ownership, poverty, length of stay in the USA and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation were detected. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggested that having Asian ethnic food stores within a short, walkable distance from home and shopping at these stores often can promote healthy dietary behaviour among Burmese refugees.

Acoustic correlates of Burmese voiced and voiceless sonorants.

Voiceless sonorant consonants are typologically rare segments, appearing in only a few of the world's languages, including Burmese. In this study, Burmese sonorants and their adjacent vowels are investigated in an attempt to (1) determine what acoustic correlates distinguish voiced and voiceless sonorants and (2) determine whether there are multiple realizations of voiceless sonorants and, if so, establish what acoustic correlates distinguish them. In order to pursue these questions, a production study was carried out and target words were analyzed, demonstrating that Burmese voiceless sonorants have a spread glottis period resulting in turbulent airflow 78 % of the time. Findings from linear mixed-effects models showed that voiced and voiceless sonorants are significantly different in terms of duration of the sonorant, F0 of the sonorant, and strength of excitation measured over the following vowel. A linear discriminant analysis was able to predict voicing category with 86.7 % accuracy, with the duration of the spread glottis period being the best indicator of voicelessness, followed by the cues that were significant in the linear mixed-effects models. In cases when the spread glottis period is absent from voiceless sonorants, the sonorant only has correlates that are associated with voicelessness (such as F0 and strength of excitation) but not correlates that are associated with the spread glottis gesture (such as duration and harmonics-to-noise ratio). These results have implications both for our understanding of the acoustics of Burmese sonorants and for our understanding of voiceless sonorants more generally.

Population Structure of Macaca fascicularis aurea, and their Genetic Relationships with M. f. fascicularis and M. mulatta Determined by 868 RADseq-Derived Autosomal SNPs-A consideration for biomedical research.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the population structure of Macaca fascicularis aurea and their genetic relationships with M. f. fascicularis and M. mulatta. METHODS: The study analyzed 868 RADseq-derived SNPs from samples representing the entire distribution range of M. f. aurea, including their inter- and intraspecific hybrid zones. RESULTS: The study supports a M. mulatta/Indochinese M. f. fascicularis, Sundaic M. f. fascicularis, and M. f. aurea trichotomy; M. f. aurea was genetically distinct from both forms of M. f. fascicularis and M. mulatta. Hybridization between M. f. aurea and M. f. fascicularis occurred in two directions: south-north (8°25' to 15°56') and west-east (98°28' to 99°02'). Low levels of M. mulatta introgression were also detected in M. f. aurea. CONCLUSION: This study showcases a complicated scenario of genetic relationships between the M. fascicularis subspecies and between M. fascicularis and M. mulatta and underscores the importance of these taxa's population structure and genetic relationships for biomedical research.

Fish consumption and awareness of fish advisories among Burmese refugees: A respondent-driven sampling study in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

BACKGROUND: Since 2000, more than 6000 Burmese refugees were resettled in Wisconsin. The Burmese diet is traditionally rich in fish and fish products, and studies show that Burmese refugees continue to rely on local waterbodies for food. Given that Wisconsin has five Areas of Concern (AOC) that are severely affected by pollution, long-term exposure to contaminants in sport-caught fish is a health concern. To better understand fish consumption among Burmese refugees, we conducted a biomonitoring study in Milwaukee. The present study examined Burmese refugees' fish consumption habits and awareness of fish advisories. METHODS: We used respondent-driven sampling (RDS) methodology to recruit Burmese refugees in Milwaukee. RDS Analysis Tool 7.1 was used to obtain adjusted population estimates for demographic characteristics, fish consumption habits, and awareness of fish advisories. Homophily and equilibrium were investigated to evaluate the effectiveness of RDS in recruitment. RESULTS: Initiated by five active seeds, we recruited 103 respondents to participate in the study. Respondents had a strong preference to recruit those with the same ethnicity (Homophily-score: 0.614 to 0.699) and a relatively weak preference to recruit those with the same sex (Homophily-score: 0.188 to 0.222) to participate in our study. The majority (72.5%) of respondents were women of childbearing age (WCBA). Most (68.5%) had 8th grade or less education. Regarding sportfish consumption per month in the last year, 30.6% reported eating 1-3 meals and 21.2% reported eating more than 3 meals. When asked about purchased fish consumption per month, 26.3% reported eating 1-3 meals. The overwhelming majority were not aware of safe-eating sportfish guidelines for Wisconsin (88.3%) or Milwaukee waterbodies (96.6%). CONCLUSIONS: RDS is an effective methodology to recruit hard-to-reach populations, such as the Burmese surveyed in this study. High percentages of WCBA eating potentially contaminated sportfish meals, low awareness of consumption advisories, and limited economic resources make the Burmese population more likely to be exposed to contaminants. Health education efforts should be focused in this vulnerable population, particularly among Burmese WCBA.

Cultural Influences on Healthy Weight Care in Karen Children.

PURPOSE: Although the rates of childhood obesity are disproportionately higher in children of racial and ethnic minorities, research rarely addresses possible cultural factors. The purpose of this study was to discover cultural influences that contribute to or prevent childhood obesity from the perspectives of Burmese-American children and adolescents of Karen ethnicity in the southeast U.S. DESIGN AND METHODS: The ethnonursing research method was used to seek perspectives of healthy weight care from Karen children between 8 and 15 years-of-age (n = 10). Karen parents (n = 5) and non-Karen community members (n = 13) were also interviewed. Data sources - interviews, fieldnotes, and observation notes - were analyzed using the four phases of the ethnonursing method. RESULTS: Four themes important to healthy weight care in Karen children were discovered: views of a healthy child, food and food preparation, physical activity, and mutual support among family and community. These themes revealed both Karen and non-Karen influences. CONCLUSIONS: Most Karen cultural influences promote healthy weight care in Karen children and adolescents which may protect them from childhood obesity. Lack of after-school transportation, limited space to play/exercise, and the sedentary tendencies of girls could limit healthy weight care. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Pediatric nurses may use knowledge gained from this study for promotion of healthy weight care in Karen families and to advocate for community changes which could benefit all children.

Family violence knowledge in culturally diverse communities and organisational preparedness to disseminate information.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Family violence presents a significant threat to the physical and psychological health of individuals and communities, with women from culturally diverse groups experiencing an increased risk of exposure to family violence and barriers to accessing support. It is necessary to examine the knowledge of family violence among these communities and their preferred source of knowledge to facilitate successful family violence prevention strategies. METHODS: Thirty-one women (19 Indian and 12 Burmese) completed surveys on their knowledge of family violence, while 10 representatives from community organisations completed surveys on their readiness to participate in family violence prevention efforts. This was followed by 54 community organisations disseminating information about family violence through a poster. RESULTS: Findings showed that the level of knowledge among culturally diverse communities is variable, with Indian women showing a greater understanding of a range of aspects of family violence compared to Burmese women. Findings also indicated a high degree of preparedness within organisations serving these communities to address family violence. CONCLUSION: The findings from the present study elucidate the state of family violence-related knowledge amongst the Indian and Burmese communities in a large municipality in Melbourne, Australia, and provide insight into community readiness to diffuse family violence-related information. This increased understanding could be used to enhance family violence prevention efforts in culturally diverse communities. SO WHAT?: This study provides justification for the need for educational family violence prevention efforts within the Burmese and Indian communities. It also informs us of the importance of engaging with community organisations to implement family violence prevention strategies.

Mocha tyrosinase variant: a new flavour of cat coat coloration.

A novel coloration named 'mocha' has been identified in the Burmese cat breed from Thailand. Tyrosinase (TYR) mutations are known to be associated with coat coloration in cats, such as the sable Burmese, the points of the Siamese and albino cats. Additionally, sable Burmese that produced mocha-colored cats had unexpected genotypes for TYR. Therefore, TYR was considered a candidate gene for mocha in cats. Sanger sequencing for genomic DNA revealed NC_018732.3:chromosome D1:45 898 609_45 898 771dup in exon 2 and intron 2 of TYR. Transcription analysis using cDNA detected c.820_936delinsAATCTC (p.I274_L312delinsNL), which caused a 111-bp (37 amino acid) deletion in the reading frame of TYR. The identified variant was concordant with the phenotype and segregated with TYR variants in a pedigree of 12 Burmese cats. This findings of this study suggest that TYR is associated with the mocha coloration in cats. The new color variant adds to the allelic series for TYR (C > cb  = cs  > c, c2 ) and is recessive to full color (C); however, interactions with the cb and cs alleles are unclear due to the temperature-sensitivity of the alleles.

Challenges in health-care service use among Burmese refugees: A grounded theory approach.

The timely use of health-care services is essential to achieve the best health outcomes. We explore barriers to health-care access among refugees from Burma through interviews with key community informants who serve their community as interpreters, health-care professionals, paraprofessionals, and/or representatives. The interviews with a convenience sampling of 11 leaders from Burmese and Karen ethnic communities revealed three stages of health-care use (i.e., before, during, and after doctor's appointments), in which their community members encounter difficulties in accessing health-care services. Using grounded theory analysis approach, specific difficulties and cultural considerations for each stage were emerged. This study suggests that training programs for health-care providers on refugee populations' needs, cultural expectations, attitudes, and health behaviors may ease the process for refugees during each of these three stages. Interpreters as cultural brokers have an important role in facilitating cross-cultural communications not only before and during the appointment but also after doctor's visits, such as in the pharmacy and labs.

Ancylostoma ceylanicum Hookworm in Myanmar Refugees, Thailand, 2012-2015.

During 2012-2015, US-bound refugees living in Myanmar-Thailand border camps (n = 1,839) were surveyed for hookworm infection and treatment response by using quantitative PCR. Samples were collected at 3 time points: after each of 2 treatments with albendazole and after resettlement in the United States. Baseline prevalence of Necator americanus hookworm was 25.4%, Ancylostoma duodenale 0%, and Ancylostoma ceylanicum (a zoonosis) 5.4%. Compared with N. americanus prevalence, A. ceylanicum hookworm prevalence peaked in younger age groups, and blood eosinophil concentrations during A. ceylanicum infection were higher than those for N. americanus infection. Female sex was associated with a lower risk for either hookworm infection. Cure rates after 1 dose of albendazole were greater for A. ceylanicum (93.3%) than N. americanus (65.9%) hookworm (p<0.001). Lower N. americanus hookworm cure rates were unrelated to ß-tubulin single-nucleotide polymorphisms at codons 200 or 167. A. ceylanicum hookworm infection might be more common in humans than previously recognized.

Assessment of HNA alloimmunisation risk in Northeastern Thais, Burmese and Karen.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine human neutrophil antigen (HNA) frequency, estimate possible HNA incompatibilities and predict the risk of HNA alloimmunisation in the Northeastern Thai, Burmese and Karen populations. BACKGROUND: Alloantibodies against HNA are implicated in a number of clinical conditions, including immune-mediated neutropenia and transfusion reactions. METHODS: A total of 400 unrelated healthy Thais, 261 Burmese and 249 Karen was included in this study. DNA samples were typed for HNA-1, -3, -4 and -5 systems using polymerase chain reactions with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). RESULTS: In this cohort, HNA-1a was more prevalent than HNA-1b. Accordingly, the possible risk of HNA-1a alloimmunisation against HNA-1a is lower than HNA-1b (0·0802-0·1351 vs 0·2293-0·2497). This is in contrast to the situation reported in Caucasian and African populations. The predicted risk of HNA-3 incompatibility in Thais, Burmese and Karen were 28·09%, 30·66% and 22·77%, respectively. The possible risks of HNA-3a alloimmunisation were 0·0493 in Thais, 0·0608 in Burmese and 0·0196 in Karen, respectively. No individuals were found to be homozygous for HNA-4bb. The probability of developing alloantibodies against HNA-4a was low in these populations and every population in Asia. In contrast, the overall frequency of HNA-5bb homozygous individuals was high in this study, peaking at 0·192. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study that reported the allele frequencies of HNA-1, -3, -4, and -5 in a large sample of healthy unrelated individuals from ethnic Thais, Burmese and Karen. Our results indicated the high possible risk of HNA-1, -3 and -5 alloimmunisation in these populations.

Efficacy and field applicability of Burmese grape leaf extract (BGLE) for cadmium removal: An implication of metal removal from natural water.

Burmese Grape Leaf Extract (BGLE), a low cost adsorbent was studied for cadmium (Cd(II)) removal from metal solutions and natural water samples. Batch adsorption studies were carried out to examine the influence of contact time and initial metal concentration after characterization under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cd(II)adsorptiononto BGLE was best explained by pseudo-second order kinetics (R2 = 0.99) and best fitted with Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.76). Beside the selective adsorption activity of BGLE towards Cd(II), only 0.1g of BGLE have shown effective adsorption of these ions with a maximum adsorption capacity (qm) of 44.72mgg-1. This study was a unique combination of laboratory experiments and field implication. Study indicates that same efficacy cannot be obtained in natural water samples as obtained in the case of laboratory due to the interference of major ions in water.

ARTIFICIAL ULTRAVIOLET B RADIATION RAISES PLASMA 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D3 CONCENTRATIONS IN BURMESE PYTHONS ( PYTHON BIVITTATUS).

Deficiency of vitamin D can contribute to health complications that present as metabolic bone disease. The aim of this small-scale study was to determine if a high UVb irradiance would affect an increase in plasma vitamin D3 concentrations in Burmese pythons ( Python bivittatus). There have been inconsistent results throughout the literature concerning the usefulness of UVb radiation regarding vitamin D3 synthesis. Blood samples of four healthy Burmese pythons were taken at day 0 and day 310. After the first blood sample was taken, an Arcadia Superzoo T5 ASZ01 lamp was fitted in the enclosure. For 310 days, the pythons were exposed to UVb radiation. Blood plasma vitamin D3 concentrations were considerably higher after UVb exposure. This study indicates that a period of 10 mo of UVb exposure can result in an increased vitamin D3 status in Burmese pythons. Answering whether these elevated levels have health benefits for Burmese pythons (and possibly other snake species) requires further studies.

Phylogenetic characteristics of HIV-1 among travelers entering China from Myanmar: A retrospective study.

Due to the open policy of the Chinese government, a large number of Burmese individuals enter China at land ports in Yunnan province for travel or business. However, the situation of HIV-1 infection and its phylogenetic characteristics among these travelers remains unclear, which is a potential threat to public health. From January 2003 to December 2012, a total of 1,961 travelers were detected to be positive for HIV-1 infection at land ports between Myanmar and Yunnan province, China. From 1153 (58.8%) Burmese of them, we randomly collected 489 serum samples for HIV-1 subtype/recombinant analysis. Based on successfully obtained 223 gag-RT sequences, 187 of them were genotyped as 2 subtypes and 3 CRFs. CRF01_AE was showed to be the most prevalent genotype (54.3%), followed by subtypes C (13.5%) and B (10.8%). Notably, CRF07_BC (1.3%) and CRF08_BC (4.0%) were mainly distributed in travelers from Shan state and Kachin (91.7%, 11/12), but was not found in travelers from the capital city of Yangon (0/16). Additionally, there were 36 samples (16.1%) were preliminary determined as unique recombinant forms (URFs). The higher HIV-1 infection among entering travelers from Myanmar and its diverse and complex genotypes distribution suggest this bridge population may facilitate the transmission of HIV-1. It is necessary to have the strict monitoring on this population for prevention of HIV-1 cross-border transmission.

New genus and species of the extinct aphid family Szelegiewicziidae and their implications for aphid evolution.

Recently, we are witnessing an increased appreciation for the importance of the fossil record in phylogenetics and testing various evolutionary hypotheses. However, this approach brings many challenges, especially for such a complex group as aphids and requires a thorough morphological analysis of the extinct groups. The extinct aphid family Szelegiewicziidae is supposed to be one of the oviparous lineages in aphid evolution. New material from the rock fossil deposits of Shar Teg (Upper Jurassic of Mongolia), Baissa (Lower Cretaceous of Siberia-Russia), and Burmese amber (Upper Cretaceous of Myanmar) allowed us to undertake a more detailed examination of the morphological features and carry out an analysis of the taxonomical composition and evolution of the family. This led us to the conclusion that evolution of the body plan and wing structure was similar in different, often not closely related groups, probably as a result of convergence. Additionally, we present a description of a new genus and two species (Tinaphis mongolica Zyla &Wegierek, sp. nov., and Feroorbis burmensis Wegierek & Huang, gen. et sp. nov.) that belong to this family.

Human platelet antigens in Burmese, Karen and north-eastern Thais.

OBJECTIVES: A comparative study of allele frequencies at HPA-1 to -6 and HPA-15 in Burmese and Karen populations as well as at HPA-15 in north-eastern Thais (NET) is presented. BACKGROUND: Human platelet antigens (HPAs) are clinically important in several immune platelet disorders, including foetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT), post-transfusion purpura (PTP) and platelet transfusion refractoriness (PTR). The knowledge of antigen frequencies in a population is essential for the evaluation of patients suffering from immune-mediated platelet disorders. METHODS: A total of 285 unrelated, healthy Burmese, 242 Karen and 300 NET were recruited to this study. Genotype and allele frequencies of HPA-1 to -6 and HPA-15 were defined using polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) RESULTS: No individuals homozygous for HPA-1bb, -2bb, -4bb, -5bb and -6bb were detected. HPA-1a, -2a, -4a, -5a and -6a were present in all samples of Burmese and Karen origin. HPA-1b, -2b, -4b, -5b and -6b were rare in these populations. The frequencies of HPA-3a/-3b were 60·4/39·6% in Burmese and 55·8/44·2% in Karen, respectively. Frequencies of HPA-15a/-15b were 57·2/42·8% in Burmese, 52·5/47·5% in Karen and 49·8/50·2% in NET. CONCLUSIONS: The frequencies of HPA genotypes in our study indicates that HPA-1a, -2a, -4a, -5a and -6a are unlikely involved in FNAIT, PTP and PTR in Burmese and Karen populations. However, HPA-1b, -2b, -3a, -3b, -4b, -5b, -6b, -15a and -15b may likely stimulate alloantibodies in these populations.

Specialized proteinine rove beetles shed light on insect-fungal associations in the Cretaceous.

Insects and fungi have a long history of association in shared habitats. Fungus-feeding, or mycophagy, is remarkably widespread in beetles (Coleoptera) and appears to be a primitive feeding habit that preceded feeding on plant tissues. Numerous Mesozoic beetles belonging to extant fungus-associated families are known, but direct fossil evidence elucidating mycophagy in insects has remained elusive. Here, we report a remarkable genus and species, Vetuproteinus cretaceus gen. et sp. nov., belonging to a new tribe (Vetuproteinini trib. nov.) of the extant rove beetle subfamily Proteininae (Staphylinidae) in Mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. The mouthparts of this beetle have a markedly enlarged protruding galea bearing an apparent spore brush, a specialized structure we infer was used to scrape spores off surfaces and direct them into the mouth, as in multiple modern spore-feeding beetles. Considering the long evolutionary history of Fungi, the Mid-Cretaceous beetles likely fed on ancient Basidiomycota and/or Ascomycota fungi or spore-producing organisms such as slime moulds (Myxomycetes). The discovery of the first Mesozoic proteinine illustrates the antiquity of the subfamily, and suggests that ancestral Proteininae were already diverse and widespread in Pangaea before the supercontinent broke up.

An endoparasitoid Cretaceous fly and the evolution of parasitoidism.

Parasitoidism is a key innovation in insect evolution, and parasitoid insects, nowadays, play a significant role in structuring ecological communities. Despite their diversity and ecological impact, little is known about the early evolution and ecology of parasitoid insects, especially parasitoid true flies (Diptera). Here, we describe a bizarre fly, Zhenia xiai gen. et sp. nov., from Late Cretaceous Burmese amber (about 99 million years old) that represents the latest occurrence of the family Eremochaetidae. Z. xiai is an endoparasitoid insect as evidenced by a highly developed, hypodermic-like ovipositor formed by abdominal tergites VIII + IX that was used for injecting eggs into hosts and enlarged tridactylous claws supposedly for clasping hosts. Our results suggest that eremochaetids are among the earliest definite records of parasitoid insects. Our findings reveal an unexpected morphological specialization of flies and broaden our understanding of the evolution and diversity of ancient parasitoid insects.

The first Mesozoic microwhip scorpion (Palpigradi): a new genus and species in mid-Cretaceous amber from Myanmar.

A fossil palpigrade is described and figured from mid-Cretaceous (Cenomanian) amber from northern Myanmar. Electrokoenenia yaksha Engel and Huang, gen. n. et sp. n., is the first Mesozoic fossil of its order and the only one known as an inclusion in amber, the only other fossil being a series of individuals encased in Pliocene onyx marble and 94-97 million years younger than E. yaksha. The genus is distinguished from other members of the order but is remarkably consistent in observable morphological details when compared to extant relatives, likely reflecting a consistent microhabitat and biological preferences over the last 100 million years.

Morphological characteristics and genetic diversity of Burmese long-tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis aurea).

Macaca fascicularis aurea (Mfa) is the only macaque which has been recorded to use stone tools to access encased foods. They live in close contact with M. fascicularis fascicularis (Mff) in southwestern Thailand and the hybrids were reported [Fooden, 1995]. Although Mff and Mfa can be seen in the same habitat types, tool-use behavior has never been reported in Mff. Thus, comparing the morphological characteristics and genetics between Mfa and Mff should help elucidate not only the morphological differences and genetic divergence between these subspecies but also potentially the relationship between genetics and their tool use behavior. We surveyed Mfa and Mff in Myanmar and Thailand, ranging from 16° 58' to 7° 12' N. Fecal or blood samples were collected from eight, five, and four populations of Mfa, Mff, and Mff × Mfa morphological hybrids along with three individuals of captive Chinese M. mulatta (Mm), respectively, for mtDNA and Y-chromosome (TSPY and SRY genes) DNA sequence analyses. In addition, eight populations were captured and measured for 38 somatometric dimensions. Comparison of the somatic measurements revealed that Mfa had a statistically significantly shorter tail than Mff (P < 0.05). Based on the mtDNA sequences, Mfa was separated from the Mm/Mff clade. Within the Mfa clade, the mainland Myanmar population was separate from the Mergui Archipelago and Thailand Andaman seacoast populations. All the morphological hybrids had the Mff mtDNA haplotype. Based on the Y-chromosome sequences, the three major clades of Mm/Indochinese Mff, Sundaic Mff, and Mfa were constructed. The hybrid populations grouped either with the Mm/Indochinese Mff or with the Mfa. Regarding the genetic analysis, one subspecies hybrid population in Thailand (KRI) elicited tool use behavior, thus the potential role of genetics in tool use behavior is raised in addition to the environmental force, morphological suitability, and cognitive capability. Am. J. Primatol. 78:441-455, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Uveal cysts in domestic cats: a retrospective evaluation of thirty-six cases.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate uveal cysts in domestic cats by identifying prevalence, predispositions, location, presumed etiologies, and sequelae. ANIMALS STUDIED: The clinical databases of two referral hospitals (The Animal Health Trust in the UK and Animal Eye Care in Australia) were searched to identify cats that had been diagnosed with uveal cysts, either as an incidental finding or as the reason for referral. Thirty-six cases were found. PROCEDURES: The signalment of the patients was recorded, along with any relevant previous clinical history, treatment, follow-up, and sequela. The data were compared with the unaffected feline populations examined by ophthalmologists in the two hospitals over the same 10-year time period. RESULTS: Thirty-six cats were affected, from a total examined population of 5017 (prevalence 0.72%). Twenty-one of the 36 cats were Burmese. The two centers examined 516 Burmese cats in the same time period, giving an incidence in Burmese cats of 4.1%. The mean age of affected cats at presentation was 10.25 years (SD = 4.12 years), and female cats accounted for 23 of 36 of the cases. Only 2 of 36 cats had concurrent intraocular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Uveal cysts in domestic cats are rare ophthalmic findings, and in most cases, they do not cause any clinical problems The Burmese breed is overrepresented in the data, with a relatively high prevalence of uveal cysts.