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.