Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a clinically heterogeneous myocardial disease and is the most common cardiac disease identified in domestic cats.

HCM is characterised by an increased left ventricular mass due to an increase in wall thickness of the heart, with papillary muscle hypertrophy and systolic anterior motion of the Mitral valves.

Subsequently, hypertrophy of the left heart chamber results in cardiac weakness and ultimately in heart failure.

Death by HCM can occur via three mechanisms:

(i) sudden cardiac death with arrhythmia and ventricular fibrillation,

(ii) heart failure with tachycardia, increased respiration, shortness of breath, pulmonary oedema and pleural effusion or

(iii) thrombus formation. Thrombi can form either in the left atrium due to abnormal blood circulation or in the heart chamber itself due to severe hypertrophy and cardiac weakness.

Atrial thrombi can brake free and reach the arterial blood circuit, thereby often causing blood congestion at the branching of pelvic and crural arteries with paralysis of the hind legs. Echocardiographic examination has so far been the only diagnostic tool for this disease. However, it can only identify affected cats with some years of age, when they already present first symptoms of HCM.

By DNA testing the mutation can be shown directly. The testing is carried out by state of the art laboratory methods and therefore provides a very high accuracy. In general DNA tests can be done at any age.

The test can be applied to Maine Coon and Maine Coon related cats, which were cross bred to Maine Coons. With this test we can diagnose the reported mutation, but by no means we can report on the presence/absence of the disease (especially in breeds where the correlation of HCM disease and the cited mutation is not proven). The results that are transmitted contain the information on presence/absence of the G to C mutation in the MYBPC gene exon 3 in the sample of the cat examined. We want to point out that there is still a small possibility of other mutations causing HCM which are not identified so far.

By DNA testing the mutation can be shown directly. The testing is carried out by state of the art laboratory methods and therefore provides a very high accuracy. In general DNA tests can be done at any age. The test can be applied to Ragdoll cats. With this test we can diagnose the reported mutation, but by no means we can report on the presence/absence of the disease (especially in breeds where the correlation of HCM disease and the cited mutation is not proven). The results that are transmitted contain the information on presence/absence of the mutation in the MYBPC3 gene, in the sample of the cat examined. We want to point out that there is still a small possibility of other mutations causing HCM which are not identified so far.

By DNA testing, the responsible mutation can be shown directly. This method provides a very high accuracy test and can be done at any age. It offers the possibility to distinguish not only between affected and clear cats, but also to identify clinically healthy carriers. This is an essential information for controlling the disease in the breed, as carriers are able to spread the disease in the population, but can not be identified by means of common laboratory diagnostic. To ensure maximum test reliability, the test is always performed in two independent test runs per sample.

PKD - the mutation Recently, the mutation which is suggested to cause PKD in cats was found by Dr. Leslie Lyons (University of Davis, USA). This mutation was found in all PKD affected cats but not in cats which were tested free by means of ultrasonic techniques.

PKD - the DNA test By DNA testing the mutation can be shown directly. The testing is carried out by state of the art laboratory methods and therefore provides a very high accuracy. In general DNA tests can be done at any age.

The test can be applied to Persian and Persian related cats, which were cross bred to Persians. With this test we can diagnose the reported mutation, but by no means we can report on the presence/absence of the disease (especially in breeds where the correlation of PKD disease and the cited mutation is not proven). The results that are transmitted contain the information on presence/absence of the C to A mutation in the PKD 1 gene exon 29 in the sample of the cat examined. We want to point out that there is still a small possibility of other mutations causing PKD which are not identified so far.

By DNA testing, the responsible mutation can be shown directly. This method provides a very high accuracy test and can be done at any age. It offers the possibility to distinguish not only between affected and clear cats, but also to identify clinically healthy carriers. This is an essential information for controlling the disease in the breed, as carriers are able to spread the disease in the population, but can not be identified by means of common laboratory diagnostic. To ensure maximum test reliability, the test is always performed in two independent test runs per sample.

PK - The Mutation-based Test and its Advantages The genetic defect leading to the disease has been identified. By DNA testing the responsible mutation can be shown directly. This method provides a very high accuracy test and can be done at any age. It offers the possibility to distinguish not only between affected and clear dogs, but also to identify clinically healthy carriers. This is an essential information for controlling the disease in the breed as carriers are able to spread the disease in the population, but can not be identified by means of common laboratory diagnostic. If a particularly valuable animal turns out to be a carrier, it can be bred to a non-affected animal, and non-carrier puppies can be saved for the next round of breeding.

Affected kittens develop an odd gait with a sway of the hindquarters and stand with the hocks nearly touching. They may also stand with toes out in the front.

By 5-6 months of age they are too weak in the hindquarters to readily jump up on furniture and often have a clumsy landing when jumping down. The long hair Maine Coon cats may hide it, but careful feeling of the limbs will reveal reduced muscle mass.

By DNA testing, the responsible mutation can be shown directly. This method provides a test with a very high accuracy and can be done at any age. It offers the possibility to distinguish not only between affected and clear cats, but also to identify clinically healthy carriers. This is an essential information for controlling the disease in the breed, as carriers are able to spread the disease in the population, but can not be identified by means of common laboratory diagnostic. To ensure maximum test reliability, the test is always performed in two independent test runs per sample.

• is validated for all cat breeds except Domestic Shorthair, and
  
• can now check for more 'b' allele variants than ever before including the b3 which was identified by researchers at Laboklin, and
  
• can check for the 'c' allele which is resposnible for the AB serotyp, and
  
• only available at Laboklin

A recent study at Laboklin identified a number of new variants involved in determining the different blood groups in cats. Our Genetic Blood Group DNA test has now been updated with the new variants and as a result we can now screen all cat breeds except Domestic Shorthair for genetic blood groups. The updated test can detect the 'b' mutation which is reposnible for blood group 'B' more accurately than before and in more breeds, and the 'c' mutation which is repsonsible for blood group 'AB' in Ragdoll and Bengal can now be detected.

The test is valid for all cat breeds except: Domestic Shorthair.

The new improved test is more comperhensive than any other commercially available tests.

Neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI):

This incompatibility reaction, especially important for breeders, is neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI). Neonatal isoerythrolysis in cats, also called fading kitten syndrome, is a dissolution of the red blood cells.

Only new born cats with blood groups A or AB (also known as C) whose mother has blood group B are affected by NI. In pedigree catteries, neonatal isoerythrolysis may occur in first-born and multiparous queens with blood group B, if they are mated to toms having blood groups A or AB (also known as C).

The kittens, with blood group A and AB (also known as C), which were born healthy, however, take up the mother's antibodies with the colostrum. These bind to the erythrocytes, which are then destroyed. Anaemia, excretion of protein in the urine and jaundice are the consequences, so that the kittens usually die within the first week of life. In some cases, the intestinal barrier is already closed at the time of birth, so that the absorption of the immunoglobulins by the kitten is prevented. Therefore, some theoretically at-risk kittens may not develop neonatal isoerythrolysis. Thus, not all kittens with blood groups A and C whose mother is type B develop NI.

Good to know Blood type B kittens whose mothers have blood group A do not develop NI. This is due to the low anti-B antibody titre in blood group A queens.

As a rule, new born kittens with clinical symptoms cannot be treated successfully. However, neonatal isoerythrolysis can be prevented by determining the blood groups of possible breeding partners in advance and avoiding mating between queens with blood group B and toms with types groups A or AB (also known as C). However, if such mating does occur, the kittens with blood groups A or AB (also known as C) should be separated from their type B mother in the first 16-24 hours after birth to prevent antibody uptake before the intestinal barrier is closed. For the genetic blood group determination, Laboklin requires either an EDTA blood sample (0.5 - 1 ml) or 2 cheek swabs. The sample run time after sample arrival is approx. 3-5 working days.

The differences between blood types is determined by the activity of cytidine monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH). CMAH is only active in type A erythrocytes and either absent or non-functional in type B red blood cells. This inactivity is caused by different mutations in the CMAH gene.

The original mutation which is causative for blood type B was found by Leslie A. Lyons research team and allows for correctly identifying 86 % of all type B cats which still left 14 % of serological type B cats misidentified, especially Ragdolls and Turkish Angora cats.

Our own research shows that additional screening for two other novel mutations correctly identifies 99% of all type B cats. By determining just these two novel variants all type A and B Ragdolls were identified correctly. These two mutations were also found to be causative for blood type B in Turkish Angora, Neva Masquerade, Scottish Fold as well as Domestic Shorthair cats

Leslie A. Lyons research team found another variant in CMAH which is responsible for blood type C (AB) in Ragdolls. We found that this specific mutation is not exclusively found in Ragdolls even though it is rare in other breeds. Type C Bengal cats could also be correctly identified by this mutation and it was also found in British Shorthairs, Maine Coons and Scottish Fold cats.

Since 2017 we practice a genotyping scheme with four variants, three of those to identify blood type B cats correctly and one additional to include the most common variant for blood type C.

The test now detects three genetic variants for the 'b' allele (268T>A, 179G>T, 1322delT) and one variant for the 'c' allele (364C>T).

The 3 'b' variants are also known as b1, b2, and b3.