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Published on: March 29, 2020
Investigation of pathological haemorrhage in Maine Coon cats
Conor O'Halloran1,2, Petra Cerna3,4, Craig Breheny3
1Hospital for Small Animals, The Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, UK s0903769@sms.ed.ac.uk.
Insights
A hereditary bleeding disorder, dysfibrinogenaemia, was identified in Maine Coon cats. This condition causes low fibrinogen levels and prolonged clotting times, increasing surgical bleeding risks in affected cats and their relatives.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Hematology
- Genetics
Background:
- A previous report detailed afibrinogenaemic haemorrhage in a Maine Coon cat.
- Two littermates of the affected cat died due to surgical non-haemostasis, indicating a potential inherited bleeding disorder.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a suspected hereditary coagulopathy in Maine Coon cats presenting with pathological haemorrhage.
- To assess coagulation parameters in affected cats, their healthy relatives, and unrelated healthy Maine Coons.
Main Methods:
- Prospective recruitment of three cat groups: Maine Coons with haemorrhage (n=8), their healthy relatives (n=13), and unrelated healthy Maine Coons (n=12).
- Coagulation tests included prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin clotting time (TCT).
- Fibrinogen concentration was quantified, alongside routine haematological examination.
Main Results:
- Significantly reduced fibrinogen concentrations were observed in cats with haemorrhage and their healthy relatives compared to the control group (P<0.01).
- Significantly prolonged TCT was noted in cats with haemorrhage (P<0.01) and their relatives (P=0.02) compared to controls.
- Thirty-three blood samples were analyzed in total.
Conclusions:
- Dysfibrinogenaemia was diagnosed in clinical cases and their healthy relatives, suggesting a hereditary condition in Maine Coon cats.
- Clinicians should consider the heightened risk of surgical non-haemostasis in this breed.
- Pre-surgical assessment of clotting function is recommended for Maine Coon cats.
Objective:
Afibrinogenaemic haemorrhage was previously reported in a Maine Coon cat. Two littermates subsequently died from surgical non-haemostasis, suggesting a hereditable coagulopathy.
Methods:
We prospectively recruited cats which were: a) Maine Coons with pathological haemorrhage (group 1, n=8), b) healthy familial relatives of group 1 (group 2, n=13) and c) healthy Maine Coons unrelated to groups 1 and 2 (group 3, n=12). Coagulation tests: prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin clotting time (TCT) were performed on citrated plasma along with quantification of fibrinogen. Routine haematological examination was performed on EDTA-anticoagulated blood collected contemporaneously.
Results:
Thirty-three blood samples were analysed. Fibrinogen concentrations were significantly reduced in groups 1 (P<0.01) and 2 (P<0.01) compared with group 3. Similarly, TCT was found to be significantly extended in group 1 (P<0.01) and group 2 (P=0.02) with respect to group 3.
Conclusions:
Dysfibrinogenaemia was identified in clinical cases and their healthy relatives, suggesting that this may represent a hereditary condition of Maine Coon cats. Clinicians should be aware of the increased potential for non-haemostasis in this cat breed and consider assessing clotting function before (elective) surgery.
