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Topic:Genetics
Genetics in horses encompasses the study of hereditary traits and the genetic makeup that influences various characteristics and health conditions in equine populations. This field involves the analysis of genes and their functions, inheritance patterns, and the impact of genetic variations on traits such as coat color, performance ability, and susceptibility to diseases. Research in equine genetics employs techniques such as genome mapping, sequencing, and genetic testing to identify specific genes and mutations associated with these traits. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the genetic basis of equine traits, the methodologies used in genetic research, and the implications for breeding, health management, and conservation of horse breeds.
Melengestrol acetate as a tool for inducing early ovulation in transitional mares. The efficacy of melengestrol acetate (MGA) to shorten the vernal transition of mares by synchronising and accelerating the first ovulation of the year after 60 days of phototherapy was determined by ultrasonographic monitoring. Sixteen mares in late transition were fed two doses of MGA (150 mg/mare/day and 100 mg/mare/day, respectively) for 10 days. A luteolytic dose of prostaglandin was administered to each mare one day after the end of MGA treatment. The presence and duration of oestrus, follicular growth, uterine oedema and presence of ovulation were monitored by ultrasonography and the cer...
Acquired multiple Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency in 10 horses with atypical myopathy. The aim of the current study was to assess lipid metabolism in horses with atypical myopathy. Urine samples from 10 cases were subjected to analysis of organic acids, glycine conjugates, and acylcarnitines revealing increased mean excretion of lactic acid, ethylmalonic acid, 2-methylsuccinic acid, butyrylglycine, (iso)valerylglycine, hexanoylglycine, free carnitine, C2-, C3-, C4-, C5-, C6-, C8-, C8:1-, C10:1-, and C10:2-carnitine as compared with 15 control horses (12 healthy and three with acute myopathy due to other causes). Analysis of plasma revealed similar results for these predominantly...
An equine chromosome 3 inversion is associated with the tobiano spotting pattern in German horse breeds. The tobiano white-spotting pattern is one of several known depigmentation phenotypes in horses and is desired by many horse breeders and owners. The tobiano spotting phenotype is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Horses that are heterozygous or homozygous for the tobiano allele (To) are phenotypically indistinguishable. A SNP associated with To had previously been identified in intron 13 of the equine KIT gene and was used for an indirect gene test. The test was useful in several horse breeds. However, genotyping this sequence variant in the Lewitzer horse breed revealed that 14% of ho...
Lactobacillus equigenerosi sp. nov., a coccoid species isolated from faeces of thoroughbred racehorses. Two strains of lactic acid bacteria were isolated from faeces of two actively racing thoroughbred horses. The isolates formed a subcluster in the Lactobacillus reuteri phylogenetic group, closely related to Lactobacillus fermentum, L. gastricus, L. ingluviei and L. mucosae, by phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness revealed that the isolates belonged to the same taxon and were genetically separated from their phylogenetic relatives. Biochemical and physiological characteristics also distinguished the isolates from their phylogenetic relatives. The...
A review of equine muscle disorders. Muscle disorders are a common cause of disability in horses. For many years, clinical manifestations such as muscle pain, exercise intolerance, weakness, and stiffness were believed to be caused by a single syndrome. However, in the past years a broad spectrum of muscle disorders have been recognized including glycogen and polysaccharide storage myopathies, malignant hyperthermia, mitochondrial myopathy, hyperkalemic periodic paralysis and others. For some, a specific mutation has been identified. Recognition of the myopathic clinical phenotype and thorough clinical, electrodiagnostic, and his...
Ancient DNA clarifies the evolutionary history of American Late Pleistocene equids. Hippidions are past members of the equid lineage which appeared in the South American fossil record around 2.5 Ma but then became extinct during the great late Pleistocene megafaunal extinction. According to fossil records and numerous dental, cranial, and postcranial characters, Hippidion and Equus lineages were expected to cluster in two distinct phylogenetic groups that diverged at least 10 MY, long before the emergence of the first Equus. However, the first DNA sequence information retrieved from Hippidion fossils supported a striking different phylogeny, with hippidions nesting inside a p...
Semi-quantitative analysis of Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Fibrobacter succinogenes and Streptococcus bovis in the equine large intestine using real-time polymerase chain reaction. There is a need to further our understanding of the role that the equine hindgut ecosystem plays in digestive processes and diseases. The aim of the present study was to utilise the real-time PCR technique to determine the abundance of candidate cellulolytic (Ruminococcus flavefaciens; Fibrobacter succinogenes) and non-cellulolytic (Streptococcus bovis) bacteria in lumen contents from the caecum, ventral and dorsal colon, and rectum of healthy horses (n 14). Total DNA was extracted from frozen and lyophilised lumen contents, and PCR primers and Taqman probes were designed based on 16S rDNA seq...
Expression of histone 1 (H1) and testis-specific histone 1 (H1t) genes during stallion spermatogenesis. In eukaryotic cells, the major protein constituents of the chromatin are histones, which can be divided into five classes, identified as H1, H2A, H2B, H3 and H4. During normal spermatogenesis, a testis-specific H1t is expressed in primary spermatocytes and believed to facilitate histone to protamine exchanges during spermiogenesis. In equine testes we detected the H1 protein at 22kDa by western blot analysis while H1t was detected at 29kDa. H1 protein was found to be expressed in all germ cells up to elongating spermatids (Sc) at stage IV. In peripubertal animals, there was a prolonged express...
Passage of postovulatory follicular fluid into the peritoneal cavity and the effect on concentrations of circulating hormones in mares. Reported data were reviewed and reexamined to evaluate the concept that most of the follicular fluid enters the peritoneal cavity at ovulation in mares and transiently alters the circulating concentrations of LH, FSH, estradiol, and inhibin. A transrectal ultrasonographic study supported the hypothesis that the large volume (40-50 ml) of evacuated follicular fluid passes through the infundibular fimbriae into the peritoneal cavity. A spike in circulating inhibin and a decrease in the rate of reduction in circulatory estradiol occurs at ovulation. Simultaneously, a disruption occurs in the incr...
Molecular cloning and characterization of equine Toll-like receptor 9. Innate immunity relies on a series of germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), to detect conserved microbial components. TLR9 is typically expressed intracellularly in immune cells such as dendritic cells and recognizes unmethylated bacterial or viral cytosine-phosphate-guanine DNA (CpG-DNA). To investigate innate immune responses through TLR9 signaling pathway in horses, we cloned and characterized equine TLR9. Protein sequence analysis shows that equine TLR9 has a typically conserved cytosolic Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain, three l...
Glycogen synthase (GYS1) mutation causes a novel skeletal muscle glycogenosis. Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) is a novel glycogenosis in horses characterized by abnormal glycogen accumulation in skeletal muscle and muscle damage with exertion. It is unlike glycogen storage diseases resulting from known defects in glycogenolysis, glycolysis, and glycogen synthesis that have been described in humans and domestic animals. A genome-wide association identified GYS1, encoding skeletal muscle glycogen synthase (GS), as a candidate gene for PSSM. DNA sequence analysis revealed a mutation resulting in an arginine-to-histidine substitution in a highly conserved region of G...
Genetic diversity in the Pantaneiro horse breed assessed using microsatellite DNA markers. The genetic variability for a sample of 227 animals from three populations of Pantaneiro horses was estimated using data from 10 microsatellite loci. The number of alleles and the proportion of heterozygosity indicated high variability. A total of 91 alleles were found, with a significantly high mean number of alleles. The mean polymorphic information content was 0.7 and the paternity exclusion probability was 99.3%. The inbreeding coefficient (F(IS)) was low for the three populations: Ipiranga (F(IS) = 0.147), Nova Esperança (F(IS) = 0.094) and Promissão (F(IS) = 0.108). Genetic differentia...
Naturally arising point mutations in non-essential domains of equine infectious anemia virus Rev alter Rev-dependent nuclear-export activity. Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) exhibits a high rate of genetic variation in vivo, and results in a clinically variable disease in infected horses. In vivo populations of EIAV have been characterized by the presence of distinct, genetic subpopulations of Rev that differ in phenotype and fluctuate in dominance in a manner coincident with each clinical stage of disease. This study examined the specific mutations that arose in vivo and altered the phenotype. The Rev protein was found to be highly conserved, and only 10 aa mutations were observed at a frequency greater than 10 % in the sampl...
Impaired instrumental choice in crib-biting horses (Equus caballus). Horses displaying an oral stereotypy were tested on an instrumental choice paradigm to examine differences in learning from non-stereotypic counterparts. Stereotypic horses are known to have dysfunction of the dorsomedial striatum, and lesion studies have shown that this region may mediate response-outcome learning. The paradigm was specifically applied in order to examine learning that requires maintenance of response-outcome judgements. The non-stereotypic horses learned, over three sessions, to choose a more immediate reinforcer, whereas the stereotypic horses failed to do so. This suggests...
[Progress in the study of genetic diversity of Mongolian horse]. Mongolian horse is a kind of important breed resource of local horses in our country. It has a lot of advantages such as powerful endurance, rough feeding resistance, and strong disease resistance. These advantages have become driving force for in-depth study on Mongolian horse. Genetic diversity can reflect all the genetic information of a species or a variety, namely, it reflects the richness of genetic diversity and confirms the degree of uniqueness of genetic resources through genetic markers. This paper introduces the progress in the study on genetic diversity of Mongolian horse in many a...
[Design of equine serum-based Marburg virus immunoglobulin]. Immunoglobulin (Ig) against Marburg fever (MF) has been obtained from the equine serum. In terms of physicochemical and immunobiological properties, the obtained preparation corresponds to the quality of heterologous commercial immunoglobulins. The application of Marburg virus (MV) Ig with a titer of no less than 1:2048 by the emergency prevention scheme 1-2 hours after intraperitoneal inoculation of guinea pigs with MV in a dose of 20-50 LD50 protected 88-100% of the animals from death. MV Ig is recommended for emergency prevention of human MF.
Experimental embryology of mammals at the Jastrzebiec Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding. Our Department of Experimental Embryology originated from The Laboratory of Embryo Biotechnology, which was organized and directed by Dr. Maria Czlonkowska until her premature death in 1991. Proving successful international transfer of frozen equine embryos and generation of an embryonic sheep-goat chimaera surviving ten years were outstanding achievements of her term. In the 1990s, we produced advanced fetuses of mice after reconstructing enucleated oocytes with embryonic stem (ES) cells, as well as mice originating entirely from ES cells by substitution of the inner cell mass with ES cells. ...
Identification of a LIM domain-containing gene in the Cyathostominae. The Cyathostominae are a complex group of nematodes and are the primary parasitic pathogens of horses. Little is known of their basic biology. As part of an investigation into mechanisms involved in reactivation of mucosal larval stages, we identified a gene encoding a predicted LIM domain-containing protein (Cy-LIM-1). LIM domains are cysteine- and histidine-rich motifs that are thought to direct protein-protein interactions. Proteins that contain these domains have a wide range of functions including gene regulation, cell fate determination and cytoskeleton organization. The Cy-lim-1 mRNA wa...
Genetic analysis of insect bite hypersensitivity (summer eczema) in Icelandic horses. There is a lack of knowledge about the genetic background of eczema due to insect bite hypersensitivity, also called summer eczema, in horses. The condition is known in several horse breeds and countries and it causes reduced welfare of the horse and economic losses to the owner. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for summer eczema in Swedish-born Icelandic horses. A questionnaire was sent to owners of horses sired by stallions with more than 50 offspring born in Sweden between 1991 and 2001. Variance components of summer eczema classified as healthy, mild, moderate or se...
Technical note: a novel method for routine genotyping of horse coat color gene polymorphisms. The aim of this note is to describe a reliable, fast, and cost-effective real-time PCR method for routine genotyping of mutations responsible for most coat color variation in horses. The melanocortin-1 receptor, Agouti-signaling peptide, and membrane-associated transporter protein alleles were simultaneously determined using 2 PCR protocols. The assay described here is an alternative method for routine genotyping of a defined number of polymorphisms. Allelic variants are detected in real time and no post-PCR manipulations are required, therefore limiting costs and possible carryover contaminat...
Genetic variability in Hanoverian warmblood horses using pedigree analysis. A data set constituting a total of 310,109 Hanoverian warmblood horses was analyzed to ascertain the genetic variability, coefficients of inbreeding, and gene contributions of foreign populations. The reference population contained all Hanoverian horses born from 1980 to 2000. In addition, Hanoverian stallions born from 1980 to 1995 and Hanoverian breeding mares from the birth years 1980 to 1995 with registered foals were analyzed for the same genetic parameters. The average complete generation equivalent was approximately 8.43 for the reference population. The mean coefficient of inbreeding w...
Plasmid growth hormone releasing hormone therapy in healthy and laminitis-afflicted horses-evaluation and pilot study. In vivo electroporation dramatically improves the potency of plasmid-mediated therapies, including in large animal models. Laminitis and arthritis are common and debilitating diseases in the horse, as well as humans. Methods: The effects of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) on healthy horses and on horses with laminitis that were followed for 6 months after a single intramuscular injection and electroporation of 2.5 mg of an optimized myogenic GHRH-expressing plasmid were examined. Results: In the first study on six healthy horses, we observed a significant increase in body mass by day 1...
Formation of the arterivirus replication/transcription complex: a key role for nonstructural protein 3 in the remodeling of intracellular membranes. The replication/transcription complex of the arterivirus equine arteritis virus (EAV) is associated with paired membranes and/or double-membrane vesicles (DMVs) that are thought to originate from the endoplasmic reticulum. Previously, coexpression of two putative transmembrane nonstructural proteins (nsp2 and nsp3) was found to suffice to induce these remarkable membrane structures, which are typical of arterivirus infection. Here, site-directed mutagenesis was used to investigate the role of nsp3 in more detail. Liberation of the hydrophobic N terminus of nsp3, which is normally achieved by c...
Application of primed in situ DNA synthesis (PRINS) with telomere human commercial kit in molecular cytogenetics of Equus caballus and Sus scrofa scrofa. Recently, molecular techniques have become an indispensable tools for cytogenetic research. Especially, development of in situ techniques made possible detection at the chromosomal level, genes as well as repetitive sequences like telomeres or the DNA component of telomeres. One of these methods is primed in situ DNA synthesis (PRINS) using an oligonucleotide primer complementary to the specific DNA sequence. In this report we described application of PRINS technique with telomere human commercial kit to telomere sequences identification. This commercial kit may be use to visualization of inte...
Multidirectional cross-species painting illuminates the history of karyotypic evolution in Perissodactyla. The order Perissodactyla, the group of odd-toed ungulates, includes three extant families: Equidae, Tapiridae, and Rhinocerotidae. The extremely rapid karyotypic diversification in perissodactyls has so far prevented the establishment of genome-wide homology maps between these three families by traditional cytogenetic approaches. Here we report the first genome-wide comparative chromosome maps of African rhinoceroses, four tapir species, four equine species, and humans. These maps were established by multidirectional chromosome painting, with paint probes derived from flow-sorted chromosomes o...
Genetic analysis of white facial and leg markings in the Swiss Franches-Montagnes Horse Breed. White markings and spotting patterns in animal species are thought to be a result of the domestication process. They often serve for the identification of individuals but sometimes are accompanied by complex pathological syndromes. In the Swiss Franches-Montagnes horse population, white markings increased vastly in size and occurrence during the past 30 years, although the breeding goal demands a horse with as little depigmented areas as possible. In order to improve selection and avoid more excessive depigmentation on the population level, we estimated population parameters and breeding value...
Truncation of cytoplasmic tail of EIAV Env increases the pathogenic necrosis. Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV), like other lentiviruses, has a transmembrane glycoprotein with an unusually long cytoplasmic tail (CT). Viral envelope (Env) proteins having CT truncations just downstream the putative membrane-spanning domain (PMSD) are assumed to exist among all wild-type budded virions, and also in some cell-adapted strains. To determine whether CT-truncated Env proteins can cause particularly deleterious effects on the Env expressing cells and/or their neighboring cells, plasmids encoding codon-optimized env gene including full-length (pE863) or CT-truncated (pE686* a...
Ovine anti-rabies antibody production and evaluation. In view of the disadvantages of human and equine rabies immunoglobulin still there is urgent needs for safe and cost-control anti-rabies immunoglobulins especially for person who have been severely exposed (categories III) to the virus. Our attempt to produce a less immunogenic and cheaper anti-rabies immunoglobulin affordable for those people living in developing countries, has been harnessed the ovine as a bioreactor instead the horse. The animals have been intramuscular immunized, and the plasma processed with 5% caprylic acid to yield IgG with purity of 95%. Moreover, antibody apparently i...
