Two original health research projects dealing with Sphynx were established following a meeting held at the 2006 CFA Annual in Reno, Nevada.

- Dr. Kate Meurs’ study on cardiomyopathy and collection of ultrasounds, pedigrees, and blood samples


- Dr. Lyons’ collection of buccal swabs and questionnaires concerning each cat’s degree of hairlessness, and its possible link to other problems which seem to be related to the hairless genetic

Continual updates will be posted on this page concerning health related research into our breed.

 Wednesday, February 13, 2008 – Judy Webb Gunby

  -----Original Message-----
From: Winnfeline@aol.com [mailto:Winnfeline@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 10:41 PM
To: jwgunby@bellsouth.net
Subject: Winn Studies Approved

I thought you both would like to know that Winn received another proposal from Dr. Meurs to continue her search for the genetic base for HCM in your breeds.  She has combined a number of breeds into one study:

Molecular evaluation of the feline alpha tropomyosin gene in Norwegian Forest, Sphynx, Siberian, Ragdoll, & Maine Coon Cats with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy  $14,242

It was deemed a good proposal and approved subject to the breed community donating their match. Winn has committed up to $5000 toward the project.  Your breeds both have already donated enough to cover your share of this study.  I have contacted the other breeds so that they can raise their share of this project.  I am hoping that we will be able to award the study in early April.

The following is a description of the project:

"Molecular evaluation of the feline alpha tropomyosin gene in Norwegian Forest, Sphynx, Siberian, Ragdoll and Maine Coon cats with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Abstract:

Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common cause of heart disease in the adult cat. Affected cats are at risk of sudden death, breathing difficulties or development of a blood clot. Increasingly, feline HCM is noted to be inherited, with examples noted in the Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Norwegian Forest, Siberian and Spynx cats, among others. We demonstrated that HCM is associated with a mutation in the myosin binding protein C gene in the Maine Coon and Ragdoll cat. In human beings, the disease is commonly associated with a mutation in one of several genes that encode for sarcomeric proteins.

We collected pedigrees, medical information and DNA samples from Norwegian Forest, Siberian, Sphynx, Ragdoll and Maine Coon cats with familial HCM. We now hypothesize that a mutation in the alpha tropomyosin gene is associated with the development of HCM in one or all of these breeds. The objective of this study is to evaluate this gene in both affected and unaffected cats for a causative mutation."

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.  It is easiest to reach me by email at winnfeline@aol.com.

Janet Wolf, Executive Director
Winn Feline Foundation
http://www.winnfelinehealth.org

http://www.winnfelinehealth.blogspot.com

 Tuesday, October 23, 2007 – Judy Webb Gunby

The Washington State University Veterinary Cardiac Genetics Laboratory has several feline cardiac research studies in progress at this time. They are looking for new participants that qualify for a study in progress.

The following is from the WSU website
http://www.vetmed. wsu.edu/deptsVCG L/ResearchFeline .aspx

"Sphynx Cats”
We are inviting new participants for this study. The requirements are: HCM diagnosed affected by a licensed veterinary professional and a certified Sphynx pedigree. We would like to include your Sphynx in this study if it meets these requirements. DNA from your Sphynx is submitted by blood draw done by your Veterinarian or Veterinary Technician. We supply a special blood buffer to be used at time the blood is drawn. More information on how to submit DNA
via blood draw go to:

http://www.vetmed. wsu.edu/deptsVCG L/studyDNA. aspx

June 17, 2006 meeting in Reno, Nevada.
Judy Webb Gunby

In attendance were Hilary Helmrich, Janet Wolf, Leslie Lyons, DVM, Judy Webb Gunby, Tom Lewis, Rebekah Lewis, and Cyndee Gause.

Hilary Helmrich is with The Winn Feline Foundation and is responsible for breed-related studies. She has been in direct contact with Kate Meurs, DVM, with regards to obtaining ultrasounds from the Sphynx cats and kittens. Dr. Meurs is with the Department of Veterinary Clinical Science at Washington State University.

Leslie Lyons, PhD, is Associate Professor of Genetics, Department of Population Health & Reproduction, University of California Davis, CA 95616

Janet Wolf represents the Winn Feline Foundation.

What we are looking at is the possibility of now having two projects that would benefit the Sphynx. One, "Affairs of the Heart", would be the continuance of Kate Meurs’ collection of ultrasounds, pedigrees, and blood samples. She would appropriate each sample by either entering it into a database for HCM, or directing it to Dr. Fox, who would provide a report and set up a database for cardiac issues “other than” HCM. The second project, "The Naked Truth", would involve Dr. Lyons’ collection of buccal swabs and questionnaires concerning each cat’s degree of hairlessness, and its possible link to other problems which seem to be related to the hairless genetic.

What will happen to the money collected thus far? The Winn Feline Foundation will continue to hold our funds until such time as enough positive ultrasounds are sent in to Kate Meurs to justify application to Winn for a grant to study the DNA material. Because genetic testing is very expensive, it is in our interest as breeders to continue to collect money so that once a DNA marker is found, we can then apply for a test so that we can help to eliminate this problem in our breeding programs.

I, Judy Webb Gunby, am making this report as the Key Coordinator for the Sphynx HCM Research Effort.