Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common and potentially lethal heart disease in cats. To reduce its prevalence, breeding cats are frequently screened on the basis of their phenotype or genotype. Although echocardiography is the most reliable phenotypical method, its efficacy is limited by the incomplete penetrance of HCM and by difficulties in distinguishing primary HCM from other causes of left ventricular hypertrophy. On the other hand, genetic testing is hampered by the genetic heterogeneity of the disease. Genetic tests are currently only available for Maine Coons and Ragdolls. Because of the high prevalence of HCM, stringent selection may have a negative impact on the genetic diversity of a breed. A more optimal selection would therefore be a slow and careful exclusion of phenotypically and/or genetically positive cats.
Highlights
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common heart disease in cats, affecting almost 15% of the general population (Payne et al, 2015b)
Considerable controversy exists around the genetic tests available for feline HCM, and breeders are not always aware that these tests are only appropriate in specific breeds (Lyons, 2012; Lyons et al, 2016)
No treatment is currently available to halt the progression of ventricular hypertrophy nor to prevent congestive heart failure or sudden cardiac death in cats, but prevention of arterial thromboembolism in high-risk cats is possible with clopidogrel (Hogan et al, 2015; Luis Fuentes and Wilkie, 2017)
Summary
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common heart disease in cats, affecting almost 15% of the general population (Payne et al, 2015b). It has become common to screen breeding cats for HCM. Phenotype by means of echocardiography (Häggström et al, 2015). Both methods have their advantages, and serious limitations. Considerable controversy exists around the genetic tests available for feline HCM, and breeders are not always aware that these tests are only appropriate in specific breeds (Lyons, 2012; Lyons et al, 2016). The strategies for reducing the prevalence of HCM in purebred cats and the role of genetic testing and echocardiography are discussed
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