Update: Nov 25, 2006

    The first week in December, Dr. Kate Meurs will submit a grant to the Winn Foundation for an initial evaluation with the Sphynx DNA of the most common gene that causes familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in humans, the myosin heavy chain gene. Two other breed organizations, the Ragdoll and Norwegian Forest Cat are interested in doing similar projects and she is suggesting that she submit one grant for all three breeds in order to defray some of the costs of this research for the first year - mostly involving materials and technical support.

Any scans and pedigrees that you have not already sent to Kate, please do so. We need to get them sent this next week BEFORE the first week in December, which is the deadline.

Concerns over the $7500 raised for Sphynx HCM research will be addressed if this research is shared. I am certain that any money raised on behalf of the Sphynx will be matched by the other two breeds, and money left will continue to sit in our fund for future research for the Sphynx. As soon as I receive information with regards to this, I will post it to the group.

I know many of you are very happy that this is finally coming to fruition. We have worked very hard to get this research underway!

Judy Webb Gunby of Skinzin Sphynx
Key Coordinator
Sphynx HCM Research Fund

Update: Nov 1, 2006

Dr. Kate Meurs recently sent me an update of her receipt of ultrasounds on October 17, 2006:

"We now have about 10 HCM positive scans. I sent out blood sample kits to them and received 8 back so far. This should be enough to start, but it will be important to have as many as possible to test to help confirm if we actually find something so please keep encouraging people to contact us."

KEEP THE ULTRASOUNDS COMING!!! ANYTHING THAT IS NOT CONFIRMED HCM WILL GO TO THE OTHER CARDIAC RESEARCH WHICH DR. FOX IS DOING FOR US!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR COOPERATION.

Judy Webb Gunby
 

Hilary Helmrich

We have nearly enough money now (around $7300.00), which has been raised over the last eight months on behalf of the Sphynx. This effort was made, and contributed by, many Sphynx breeders internationally in order to apply for a grant through The Winn Feline Foundation. This grant is to be for research to find the genetic marker for HCM in the Sphynx. Many breeders have participated in this effort by sending to Kate Meurs, DVM, copies of pedigrees and ultrasounds taken of their cats’ hearts. However, only one ultrasound sent to her confirmed a diagnosis of HCM. Hilary explained that, because there were insufficient confirmed HCM cases submitted, application for a grant to find a genetic marker for HCM in the Sphynx cat is not justified at this time.

So far, the research has shown that the Sphynx has a DNA abnormality of its own that is different from samples of other breeds, including the Main Coon, for which a genetic marker for HCM has been identified.
 

Dr. Meurs’ research so far has indicated that the Sphynx may have two types of cardiac problems. One may be HCM, and another may be what we are now calling “early onset HCM.” This “early onset” could actually be something entirely different.
 

Dr. Meurs’ special laboratory is set up to study HCM specifically. Therefore, she will ask Dr. Phil Fox (a leading veterinary cardiologist and pathologist at the Animal Medical Center in New York City) to look at the samples that have been submitted that were not hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and try to explain what the early onset “HCM” really is. This will be done at no cost to breeders.

Dr. Meurs has asked that everyone be encouraged by the findings so far, and be encouraged to continue to send their ultrasound reports, pedigrees, and blood samples to her, as she will forward those that are not HCM to Dr. Fox. We were reminded to encourage the setting up of this database, as it is designed to enable the scientific study into the workings of the Sphynx heart and will be a benefit to all breeders. Plus, this research is being done at no charge.

 

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Sphynx
- an update from Judy Webb Gunby
by Hilary Helmrich

There appear to be two forms of HCM which appear in Sphynx. One is an early onset variety which strikes young kittens before the age of six months. The other is a late onset type that is seen in mature adults. Several samples and pedigrees have been sent to Kate Meurs. In looking at the samples, only one cat showed the type of HCM she has been working on. The other cat samples that were received were something else entirely, probably other forms of HCM caused by other genes.

Dr. Meurs ran the sample of the cat with HCM against her panel of Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat, and Ragdoll samples, and it is different from the Maine Coon gene mutation that has been made into the test. The Norwegians and Ragdolls were different as well.

The other cat samples are not the same as the ones Dr. Meurs has been working on. She is collaborating (at no charge to the Sphynx breeders) with Dr. Phil Fox who is one of the foremost cardiac pathologists in the world) to determine what the cardiac problems of each of the other cats were. They may be other forms of HCM (there are 10 different forms in the human) and Dr. Fox should be able to tell her which form each cat had.

Your scans and samples from the "non-HCM cats" have definitely NOT been rejected. They are under study by Dr. Fox. They may just be a form of HCM that has not been under study yet. Remember that only one gene in one breed has been identified. The Sphynx are now providing NEW information for the researchers.

The information gained by studying the "unknown" samples will be very important because it can lead to identification of other gene abnormalities that will lead to specific tests in the Sphynx.

Dr. Meurs is going to send a proposal to Winn for their February meeting which will discuss the Sphynx cardiomyopathy specifically and request money to continue her studies. She would like as many samples, echoes, and pedigrees as the breeders can provide. So, continue to send. There is no criteria for getting the grant in February that says that the sphynx has to be the same as the Maine Coon gene. In fact, it is important that researchers find as many of the gene abnormalities as they can and the Sphynx are important BECAUSE the ones they have seem to be different than others. Age is NOT an issue but is interesting because it shows there are two different types.
 

MORE THAN MONEY IS NEEDED!!
If you have been involved with HCM and one of your Sphynx, whether the outcome was good or bad. We need a copy of the cat's medical records. Dr Kate Meurs will be collecting all available information relating to Sphynx and  HCM to include: PEDIGREES, MEDICAL RECORDS and/or AUTOPSY reports of HCM affected Sphynx cats, as well as those of Scanned CLEAR Cats. ALL INFORMATION WILL BE STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL! Please forward, or have your vet forward the information to:

Kate Meurs, DVM
Washington State University – CVM
Department of Veterinary Clinical Science
Pullman, Washington 99164

Her email address is: meurs@vetmed.wsu.edu

Her fax number is: 509-335-0880  Please note - this is NOT a dedicated fax and you will have to use a cover sheet addressed to Dr. Meurs.