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Investigation of pathological haemorrhage in Maine Coon cats
Author(s) -
O'Halloran Conor,
Cerna Petra,
Breheny Craig,
Reed Nicki,
Rolph Kerry,
Cade Sue,
Jones Jaimie,
Brown Richard Arthur Llewellyn,
Slade Suzy,
Papasouliotis Kostas,
GunnMoore Danielle
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1136/vr.105503
Subject(s) - partial thromboplastin time , medicine , fibrinogen , thrombin time , prothrombin time , coagulopathy , pathological , cats , clotting time , gastroenterology , group b , coagulation , breed , surgery , biology , zoology
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.