Thread: HCM testing??

Screening for the HCM1 (Meurs) defect is the only way to eliminate that proportion of Maine Coon HCM which is caused by HCM1. According to the article linked below, coons homozygous for HCM1 have an extremely high risk of HCM.

Prevalence of the MYBPC3-A31P mutation in a la... [J Vet Cardiol. 2010] - PubMed - NCBI

We do not know the proportion of HCM in Maine Coons caused specifically by HCM1, but the rate was extremely high in the French study, and lower in a German study a few years ago. Whatever the rate is, breeders can substantially reduce the incidence of HCM by avoiding HCM1 positive to positive matings. DNA screening does not eliminate the need for periodic echocardiograms.

There are clearly other defects that cause HCM in Maine Coons, so there will continue to be cases among cats negative for HCM1. That certainly doesn't mean that DNA testing can be omitted - HCM1 causes HCM in homozygous cats