Cardiomyopathy and Juvenile Mortality (CJM)

Cardiomyopathy and juvenile mortality (CJM) is a hereditary disease in Belgian Shepherd Dog breed. The clinical phenotype of this disease is unspecific and variable. Puppies are usually born without any visible signs of the disease. At the age of six to eight weeks after normal development puppies usually die. Only a few days prior the death they show some of various clinical signs such as vomiting, dyspnoea, lethargy and muscle twitching. In one of the research pathologists have found the cardiomyocytes of affected puppies were swollen and pale, and the sarcoplasm around the nucleus was dispersed by finely granular material. The cause of the disease and death are likely due to the degenerative changes in the heart, leading to myocardial failure.

Inheritance: autosomal recessive

Mutation: YARS2 gene

Genetic test: The method used for testing is extremely accurate and allows complete differentiation between affected animals, carriers and healthy dogs. Testing can be done at any age.