Heart disease in Siberian cats

June 26, 2012

Progress report, Winn grant MT08-001
SNP analysis in Siberian cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Investigator: Robert A. Grahn, University of California-Davis
 
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiac disorder of domestic cats. The disease has been identified in many breeds, such as the Maine Coon, Ragdoll, American Shorthair, Devon Rex, Sphynx, Bengal, and Siberian. Mutations in the gene MYBPC3 have been found in Ragdolls and Maine Coons with HCM, but this mutation is not known to be responsible for HCM in other breeds to date. Feline HCM closely resembles human HCM which results from mutations in any of 7 candidate genes. Over 100 samples from Siberian cats have been submitted to the investigator’s lab for HCM testing. So far, a number of candidate genes have been eliminated as the cause of HCM in this breed. One chromosomal region has been identified that has likelihood of linkage to the disease. In humans, this genomic region is associated with cardiovascular disease, so it appears to be a likely candidate for HCM in the Siberian cat and research is ongoing. [MK]

See also: Meurs KM, Norgard MM, Kuan M, et al. Analysis of 8 sarcomeric candidate genes for feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutations in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:840-843.