Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the Sphynx cat

Silverman SJ, Stern JA, Meurs KM. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the Sphynx cat: A retrospective evaluation of clinical presentation and heritable etiology. J Feline Med Surg 2012;14:246-249.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common form of heart disease in the cat. HCM is a heritable disease in some breeds of cats such as the Maine Coon and Ragdoll. Distinct causative mutations have been found in these breeds and there may be other clinical presentations. This suggests that HCM In cats is a diverse disease. The Sphynx breed has been reported to have a predilection for HCM. The records of 18 cats (11 female, 7 male) were evaluated for characteristics of HCM and for a familial etiology. The age range of affected cats was 0.5 to 7 years (median, 2 years). The results indicate a familial disease, at least in some cases, with multiple (four) affected cats occurring within one family. The mode of inheritance suggests an autosomal dominant trait similar to that of the Maine Coon, though a prospective breeding project would be needed to determine the exact mode. The age of onset appears to be younger in Sphynx than other cat breeds studied. Further studies are warranted to evaluate for a causative mutation. [VT]

Winn has recently funded grant W12-009: Fine mapping for Sphynx cat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy gene.

Related articles: 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. 

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Silverman SJ, Stern JA, Meurs KM. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the Sphynx cat: A retrospective evaluation of clinical presentation and heritable etiology. J Feline Med Surg 2012;14:246-249.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common form of heart disease in the cat. HCM is a heritable disease in some breeds of cats such as the Maine Coon and Ragdoll. Distinct causative mutations have been found in these breeds and there may be other clinical presentations. This suggests that HCM In cats is a diverse disease. The Sphynx breed has been reported to have a predilection for HCM. The records of 18 cats (11 female, 7 male) were evaluated for characteristics of HCM and for a familial etiology. The age range of affected cats was 0.5 to 7 years (median, 2 years). The results indicate a familial disease, at least in some cases, with multiple (four) affected cats occurring within one family. The mode of inheritance suggests an autosomal dominant trait similar to that of the Maine Coon, though a prospective breeding project would be needed to determine the exact mode. The age of onset appears to be younger in Sphynx than other cat breeds studied. Further studies are warranted to evaluate for a causative mutation. [VT]

Winn has recently funded grant W12-009: Fine mapping for Sphynx cat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy gene.

Related articles: 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. 

More on cat health:
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Yeast Infections in Sphynx Cats

Ahman SE, Bergstrom KE. Cutaneous carriage of Malassezia species in healthy and seborrhoeic Sphynx cats and a comparison to carriage in Devon Rex cats. J Feline Med Surg. Dec 2009;11(12):970-976.

This study looked at the presence of Malassesia species yeast in 32 Sphynx cats and in ten domestic shorthair cats (DSH). Cutaneous colonization of large numbers of Malassezia species of yeast may be related to endocrine, immunosuppressive, neoplastic, or allergic skin disease in cats. Devon Rex cats were recently shown to carry significantly more Malassezia species on their skin than did healthy DSH cats, and they were also predisposed to Massezia-associated seborrheic dermatitis. The Sphynx is an almost hairless cat breed and the Devon Rex was used for many years to outcross Sphynx. Seven sites on the body of each cat were tested. Malassezia species were isolated from 26/32 Sphynx cats (81%) and from 0/10 DSH control cats. All seborrheic cats had M. pachydermatitis isolated from their skin, at multiple sites. None of the 32 Sphynx had Malassezia species isolated from the ears. Based on the location and number of yeast isolates, in Sphynx and Devon Rex, the axilla, groin, and claw fold might be more representative sites for yeast recovery and clinical significance than sampling from the ears. [VT]

Related articles:
Ahman S, Perrins N, Bond R. Carriage of Malassezia spp. yeasts in healthy and seborrhoeic Devon Rex cats. Med Mycol. Aug 2007;45(5):449-455.

Ahman S, Perrins N, Bond R. Treatment of Malassezia pachydermatis-associated seborrhoeic dermatitis in Devon Rex cats with itraconazole--a pilot study. Vet Dermatol. Jun 2007;18(3):171-174.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Ahman SE, Bergstrom KE. Cutaneous carriage of Malassezia species in healthy and seborrhoeic Sphynx cats and a comparison to carriage in Devon Rex cats. J Feline Med Surg. Dec 2009;11(12):970-976.

This study looked at the presence of Malassesia species yeast in 32 Sphynx cats and in ten domestic shorthair cats (DSH). Cutaneous colonization of large numbers of Malassezia species of yeast may be related to endocrine, immunosuppressive, neoplastic, or allergic skin disease in cats. Devon Rex cats were recently shown to carry significantly more Malassezia species on their skin than did healthy DSH cats, and they were also predisposed to Massezia-associated seborrheic dermatitis. The Sphynx is an almost hairless cat breed and the Devon Rex was used for many years to outcross Sphynx. Seven sites on the body of each cat were tested. Malassezia species were isolated from 26/32 Sphynx cats (81%) and from 0/10 DSH control cats. All seborrheic cats had M. pachydermatitis isolated from their skin, at multiple sites. None of the 32 Sphynx had Malassezia species isolated from the ears. Based on the location and number of yeast isolates, in Sphynx and Devon Rex, the axilla, groin, and claw fold might be more representative sites for yeast recovery and clinical significance than sampling from the ears. [VT]

Related articles:
Ahman S, Perrins N, Bond R. Carriage of Malassezia spp. yeasts in healthy and seborrhoeic Devon Rex cats. Med Mycol. Aug 2007;45(5):449-455.

Ahman S, Perrins N, Bond R. Treatment of Malassezia pachydermatis-associated seborrhoeic dermatitis in Devon Rex cats with itraconazole--a pilot study. Vet Dermatol. Jun 2007;18(3):171-174.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Feline Muscular Dystrophy

Martin, P. T., G. D. Shelton, et al. (2008). "Muscular dystrophy associated with alpha-dystroglycan deficiency in Sphynx and Devon Rex cats." Neuromuscul Disord.

An animal model for some forms of muscular dystrophy in humans has been identified in the Devon Rex and Sphynx breeds. The disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner and has been identified in cats in several countries, such as the United States, Australia, UK, and the Netherlands. In the past, the disease was erroneously called "spasticity." Affected cats have a slowly progressive myopathy, with skeletal muscle weakness evidenced by cervical ventroflexion, a high-stepping forelimb gait, head bobbing, dorsal protrusion of the scapulae, and megaesophagus. There is no involvement of the peripheral nerves or central nervous system. Unfortunately, the prognosis is poor as many cats succumb to aspiration pneumonia or asphyxiation. Analysis has revealed a deficiency in alpha-dystroglycan protein expression, suggesting this disease may be one of the dystroglycanopathies.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Malik, R., K. Mepstead, et al. (1993). "Hereditary myopathy of Devon Rex cats." J Sm Anim Pract 34(11): 539-546.
>> Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Martin, P. T., G. D. Shelton, et al. (2008). "Muscular dystrophy associated with alpha-dystroglycan deficiency in Sphynx and Devon Rex cats." Neuromuscul Disord.

An animal model for some forms of muscular dystrophy in humans has been identified in the Devon Rex and Sphynx breeds. The disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner and has been identified in cats in several countries, such as the United States, Australia, UK, and the Netherlands. In the past, the disease was erroneously called "spasticity." Affected cats have a slowly progressive myopathy, with skeletal muscle weakness evidenced by cervical ventroflexion, a high-stepping forelimb gait, head bobbing, dorsal protrusion of the scapulae, and megaesophagus. There is no involvement of the peripheral nerves or central nervous system. Unfortunately, the prognosis is poor as many cats succumb to aspiration pneumonia or asphyxiation. Analysis has revealed a deficiency in alpha-dystroglycan protein expression, suggesting this disease may be one of the dystroglycanopathies.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Malik, R., K. Mepstead, et al. (1993). "Hereditary myopathy of Devon Rex cats." J Sm Anim Pract 34(11): 539-546.
>> Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Read More