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.
Liu IK.Uterine defense against infection in the mare has been actively investigated over the past decade. Mechanisms of defense, including the role of immunoglobulins, polymorphonuclear neutrophils, and the physical ability of mares to eliminate bacteria from the uterus, are discussed.
Kent MG, Shoffner RN, Hunter A, Elliston KO, Schroder W, Tolley E, Wachtel SS.An inherited genetic disorder causes XY embryos of the horse to develop as mares. On the basis of our study of 38 such mares, we have identified four grades or classes of XY sex reversal according to this scheme: class I, nearly normal female, of which some are fertile; class II, female with gonadal dysgenesis, normal mullerian development; class III, intersex mare with gonadal dysgenesis, abnormal mullerian development, enlarged clitoris; class IV, virilized intersex characterized by high levels of testosterone. In general, class I and class II mares were typed H-Y antigen-negative whereas cl...
Hardy MH, Fisher KR, Vrablic OE, Yager JA, Nimmo-Wilkie JS, Parker W, Keeley FW.The hyperextensible, fragile skin of two related horses was compared with the skin of eight normal horses. Skin sections were examined by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The deep dermal layer of the dorsal abdomen was much thinner in the affected horses, and contained bundles of collagen fibers which were more loosely packed. Within individual fibers, the fibrils were frequently curved and nonparallel rather than straight and parallel. Both of the affected animals had a greater range of fibril diameters than a normal horse. They had some unusually thick fibrils with very...
Bailey E, Albright DG, Henney PJ.Foals with the Ca blood group antigen on their RBC were given colostrum with anti-Ca antibodies (6 foals) or colostrum without anti-Ca antibodies (6 foals). The PCV were determined at birth and 2, 4, and 6 days after birth for the foals in each group. Significant differences were not observed for the PCV between the 2 groups, indicating that foals were not adversely affected by ingesting colostrum with the anti-Ca antibody. Standardbred mares without the Aa blood group antigen were evaluated to determine whether production of anti-Ca antibodies influenced production of anti-Aa antibodies. Of 2...
Allen GP, Coogle LD.The molecular structure of the equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) gene encoding glycoprotein 13 (gp13) was analyzed. The gene is contained within a 1.8-kilobase AccI-EcoRI restriction fragment mapping at map coordinates 0.136 to 0.148 in the UL region of the EHV-1 genome and is transcribed from right to left. Determination of the nucleotide sequence of the DNA fragment revealed a complete transcriptional unit composed of typical regulatory promoter elements upstream to a long open reading frame (1,404 base pairs) that encoded a 468-amino-acid primary translation product of 51 kilodaltons. The p...
Sekhar VC, Plapp BV.The binding of NAD+ to liver alcohol dehydrogenase was studied by stopped-flow techniques in the pH range from 6.1 to 10.9 at 25 degrees C. Varying the concentrations of NAD+ and a substrate analogue used to trap the enzyme-NAD+ complex gave saturation kinetics. The same maximum rate constants were obtained with or without the trapping agent and by following the reaction with protein fluorescence or absorbance of a ternary complex. The data fit a mechanism with diffusion-controlled association of enzyme and NAD+, followed by an isomerization with a forward rate constant of 500 s-1 at pH 8: E E...
Henninger RW.Severe hemorrhagic diathesis caused by hemophilia A (factor VIII:C deficiency) was diagnosed in 2 related Quarter Horse colts. Clinical signs consisted of dyspnea and dysphagia attributable to cranial cervical hematoma in one colt and to intra-abdominal hemorrhage resulting in death of the second colt. Factor VIII:C deficiency, a defect of the intrinsic coagulation pathway, is suggested by results of coagulation studies--prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, normal prothrombin time, and normal primary bleeding time. The diagnosis was confirmed by results of factor VIII:C assays. Hem...
Power MM.The results of Y chromosome measurements in 31 horses are presented. The Y chromosome was identified using G-, R-, and C-banding techniques. From G-banded metaphase spreads, total X and Y chromosome and separate proximal (P) and distal (D) Y-band measurements were made. Within this group, the Y/X ratio (%) for each animal varied from 18.93 to 43.95, with an overall mean of 34.85 and a coefficient of variation (CV) of 16.12. The overall mean P/X ratio (%) was 23.57 with a CV of 20.57, compared with an overall mean D/X ratio (%) of 11.26 with a CV of 15.18. The group studied included 27 Thorough...
Cullinane AA, Rixon FJ, Davison AJ.The genome structure of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) subtype 2 was shown by electron microscopic studies and restriction endonuclease site mapping to comprise two covalently linked segments (L, 109 kbp; S, 35 kbp). The S segment contains a unique sequence (US) flanked by a substantial inverted repeat (TRS/IRS). Thus, the genome structure of EHV-1 subtype 2 is similar to that published previously for EHV-1 subtype 1, but the two subtypes differ in the occurrences of EcoRI and BamHI restriction sites. Hybridization studies using cloned EHV-1 DNA showed that the genome of EHV-1 subtype 2 is colin...
Ihrke PJ, Wong A, Stannard AA, Vivrette SL.The fungal flora of the hair and underlying skin from 2 sites was examined qualitatively in 20 horses free of skin or ocular disease. Fungi were isolated from both the hair and the underlying skin of all 20 horses. Twenty-two genera regarded commonly as saprophytes were identified and an additional 2 fungi resembled the perfect state of the cutaneous pathogenic genera Microsporum and Trichophyton. Cladosporium spp, Penicillium spp, and Rhizopus spp were the most frequently isolated saprophytes. In general, similar fungi were isolated from the hair and underlying skin, and differences were not ...
Folz SD, Pax RA, Klei TR, Thomas EM, Ash KA, Conder GA, Bennett JL.An in vitro assay involving the use of a horse strongyle (Strongylus edentatus) and the micromotility meter has been developed to test for equine anthelmintic activity. Three commercially available equine anthelmintics (dichlorvos, ivermectin, and pyrantel pamoate) and an investigational drug (p-toluoyl chloride phenylhydrazone) were evaluated in this assay at four concentrations. After a 24-h incubation, greater than or equal to 10 micrograms/ml of all four drug treatments significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) reduced the motility of ensheathed L-3 S. edentatus larvae, thereby indicati...
Lehrman SR, Lahm HW, Miedel MC, Hulmes JD, Li CH.Equine prolactin was determined to be a single chain protein of 199 amino acid containing two tryptophan and six cysteine residues, as found in other mammalian prolactins. The primary sequence of equine prolactin was obtained by automated Edman analyses of S-carboxymethylated protein and proteolytic fragments of modified protein. Of the known prolactin sequences, equine prolactin shows closest homology with porcine (93%) and fin whale (87-91%) prolactins. Genetic mutations have produced changes in 17 of 199 residues of equine prolactin relative to its putative ancestral precursor. Since equine...
Schumacher J, Smith BL, Morgan SJ.A 2-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was examined for torticollis, facial protuberances over the frontal and maxillary sinuses, and persistent nasal discharge unresponsive to antibiotics. Radiograph revealed an osseous mass in the right paranasal sinuses. Histologic examination of the biopsied mass led to a diagnosis of osteoma. The mass was removed surgically in sections from the right frontal and maxillary sinuses through separate bone flaps, and sinuses were irrigated with saline solution for 8 days after surgery. Two weeks after surgery, radiography revealed small osseous opacities in the ri...
Karàdi I, Kostner GM, Gries A, Nimpf J, Romics L, Malle E.Earlier studies demonstrated that lipoprotein (a), a lipoprotein of high atherogenicity, possesses proteolytic activity. In this report, we provide evidence that the lipoprotein (a)-specific antigen, apoprotein (a) is immunochemically related to plasminogen. This was demonstrated by polyclonal antisera from rabbit, sheep and horse, and with three monoclonal antibodies from mouse. Using immunospecific adsorbers against lipoprotein (a), all plasminogen could be adsorbed from lipoprotein (a)-positive and apparently lipoprotein (a)-negative plasma. As an additional similarity to plasminogen, lipop...
Gaffney B, Cunningham EP.Thoroughbred horses have been bred exclusively for racing in England since Tudor times and thoroughbred horse racing is now practised in over 40 countries and involves more than half-a-million horses worldwide. The genetic origins of the thoroughbred go back largely to horses imported from the Middle East and North Africa to England in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Since the establishment of the Stud Book in 1791, the population has been effectively closed to outside sources, and over 80% of the thoroughbred population's gene pool derives from 31 known ancestors from thi...
Almahbobi G, Papadopoulos V, Carreau S, Silberzahn P.Two ultrastructurally distinct types of Leydig cells were observed in the equine testis. Whereas the adult testis exhibited both postpubertal and adult Leydig cells, the testis of the pubertal horse contained only the postpubertal type, and that of the aged horse contained only the adult type. However, Percoll-purified testicular preparations from pubertal, adult, and aged horses all exhibited two distinct Leydig cell populations. The quantitative distribution and the functional characteristics of these Leydig cell populations (ability to bind human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG] and increase of...
Safronova LD, Pimenova TI.The cytogenetic study performed has shown that karyotyping of meiotic cells can be based on the synaptonemal complexes (SC) of spreading pachytene spermatocytes of bull and of horse. The horse SC karyotype has not been previously described. A comparison of the relative length of SC with metaphase chromosomes of bull and horse somatic cells has revealed the correspondence of the chromosome length in pachytene of meiosis and metaphase, which is in agreement with the data on house mouse and Chinese hamster. The method of spreading pachytene cells may be of great practical importance in studies of...
Stott ML, Osburn BI.Long-term equine lymphocyte cultures were initiated and maintained in continuous culture with medium containing recombinant human interleukin-2. Cultures were successfully maintained with lectin activation signals and recombinant human interleukin-2 or with recombinant human interleukin-2 alone. All cell cultures that were characterized had a T-lymphocyte phenotype and had lectin-dependent or -independent cytotoxicity directed to various cell types. These findings demonstrate that long-term equine T-lymphocytes cultures can be initiated and maintained easily.
Reed SM, Hegreberg GA, Bayly WM, Brown CM, Paradis MR, Clemmons RM.A severe and progressive neuromuscular disorder accompanied by clinical, electrophysiological, and pathological features resembling human dystrophia myotonica was observed in three foals. This disorder was apparent as early as 1 month of age and involved progressive skeletal muscle dysfunction, initially characterized by proximal muscle hypertrophy and hypertonicity with subsequent muscle stiffness, weakness, and atrophy. Multisystem involvement was manifested in one case by testicular hypoplasia, early cataract formation, and borderline glucose intolerance. Prolonged dimpling of these large r...
Agbani A, Aminou O, Machmoum M, Germot A, Badaoui B, Petit D, Piro M.This Systematic Literature Review (SLR) consolidates current research on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis in horses, focusing on genetic variation, maternal lineage tracing, and haplogroup identification. The article selection process screened 1380 articles, with 76 fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Data extraction covered sampling techniques, studied mtDNA regions, sequencing methods, and haplogroup identification. Following the methodology of the PRISMA guidelines, this review encompasses studies published since 2012, obtained from Scopus, PubMed, Research4Life, Web of Science, and Scienc...
Sinovich M, Monné Rodriguez J, Pieńkowska-Schelling A, Schelling C, Kelly PG.Introduction Monorchidism is a rarely described condition in the horse and is not to be confused with cryptorchidism. The diagnosis is challenging and confirmed by surgery and histology in combination with hormonal assays. This report describes, to the best of the author's knowledge, the first case of monorchidism and abdominal cryptorchidism of the developed testicle in a horse. Methods An Irish Cob underwent laparoscopic castration for removal of bilateral cryptorchid testicles. At surgery the horse was diagnosed as a monorchid with the testicle retained intra-abdominally. Histopathological,...
Abdul-Latif SAK, Yousif AA.Strangles is a highly contagious equine respiratory disease caused by . It is a globally significant pathogen and one of the most common infectious agents in horses. In Iraq, no sequencing data on this pathogen are available, and only two molecular studies have been published to date. This study provides preliminary insights into strain diversity and provides a foundation for future large-scale investigations. Unassigned: This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics, identify gene alleles, and perform a phylogenetic analysis of isolates from horses in Baghdad, Iraq. Unassign...
Science (New York, N.Y.)May 15, 2025
Volume 388, Issue 6748 748-755 doi: 10.1126/science.adr2355
Climate affects habitat, food availability, and the movement and sustainability of all life. In this work, we apply Indigenous and Western scientific methods, including genomics and isotope profiling, on fossils from across Beringia to explore the effect of climate change on horses. We find that Late Pleistocene horses from Alaska and northern Yukon are related to populations from Eurasia and crossed the Bering land bridge multiple times during the last glacial interval. We also find deeply divergent lineages north and south of the American ice sheets that genetically influenced populations ac...
Ding W, Gong W, Bou T, Shi L, Lin Y, Shi X, Li Z, Wu H, Dugarjaviin M, Bai D, Zhao Y.Speed and endurance are the primary goals in racehorse breeding. The Grassland-Thoroughbred is a newly developed breed in northern China that combines speed, endurance, and environmental adaptability. However, current research on the genetic background of this breed and the genes associated with athletic performance remains limited. We conducted whole-genome resequencing on Mongolian (MG), Thoroughbred (TB), Xilingol (XL), and Grassland-Thoroughbred (CY) horses, generating 3813.74 Gb of clean data after quality control. The number of transitions was significantly higher than that of transversi...
Herkenhoff ME.MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are molecules that regulate gene expression by targeting the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of mRNAs. They are essential in numerous biological processes like growth, metabolism, and muscle development. miRNA research has become crucial in livestock breeding, offering solutions for improving animal health and productivity. This review focuses on miRNAs' roles in equine performance, reproduction, and disease, highlighting key findings and future applications in these areas. It discusses the use of circulating miRNAs (ci-miRNA) as biomarkers for athletic performance, particularl...
Everts RE, Caron R, Foster G, McLoone K, Martin K, Brooks SA, Lafayette C.The roan coat color is described as the dispersion of white hairs within an otherwise solid background color coat. This phenotype is primarily expressed on the body of the horse, with the head and legs exhibiting few to no white hairs. Previous studies mapped the locus for roan to the KIT region and observed linked variants in a small number of breeds. However, utilizing those linked markers to determine the roan genotype in other breeds has seen limited success. In this communication we identify a second roan allele (RN2) which, in conjunction with a previously observed roan allele (RN1) disc...
Fakhar-I-Adil M, Angel-Velez D, Araftpoor E, Amin QA, Hedia M, Bühler M, Gevaert K, Menten B, Van Soom A, Chuva de Sousa Lopes SM, Stoop D, De Roo C....In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes retrieved from ovum pick-up (OPU) or ovarian tissue (OT) is a standard approach for patients with specific conditions where prior hormonal stimulation is contraindicated. However, the developmental competence of oocytes matured in vitro is still inferior to that of oocytes matured in vivo. Capacitation IVM (CAPA-IVM) includes an extra step of pre-maturation culture (PMC) with c-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) as a meiotic arrestor to better synchronize cytoplasmic and nuclear maturity in oocytes by allowing the cytoplasm additional time to acquire essential ...
Tian Y, Su Y, Jiang X, Su L, Zhang B, Lv F.The zoonotic pathogen subspecies (SEZ) frequently colonizes equines harmlessly but can occasionally cause disease or cross species barriers. Currently, growing evidence suggests SEZ can lead to severe clinical manifestations in horses and other animals, posing a threat to human and companion animal health. In this study, we sequenced the complete genome of the SEZ strain HT321, a novel sequence type 420 isolated from a donkey with a respiratory infection in China. Subsequently, we conducted comparative genomics, core genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (cgSNP), phylogenetic analysis multi...
While the centromeric function is conserved and epigenetically specified by CENP-A, centromeric DNA, typically composed of satellite repeats, is highly divergent and rapidly evolving. In the species of the genus Equus (horses, asses and zebras), also known as equids, the numerous centromeres devoid of satellite repeats enabled us to carry out molecular analysis of centromeric chromatin establishing a unique model system for mammalian centromere biology. In this review, after a brief description of the rapid evolution of equids, we outline one of our most relevant initial discoveries: the posit...
Furukawa R, Tozaki T, Kawate K, Kikuchi M, Ishige T, Takahashi Y, Fukui E, Kakoi H.Gene doping, which entails the administration of transgenes, poses a serious threat to the integrity of equine sports and also raises both ethical and regulatory concerns. Current methods used for the detection of such doping often necessitate the extraction of DNA from plasma, which can be time-consuming and labour-intensive. To overcome this limitation, we developed a direct chamber digital PCR (cdPCR) method that enables transgene detection in equine plasma without the need for DNA purification. Using the equine erythropoietin (EPO) transgene as a model, we validated the assay by analysing ...
McGlennon AA, Verheyen KL, Newton JR, van Tonder A, Wilson H, Parkhill J, de Brauwere N, Frosth S, Waller AS.Strangles (Streptococcus equi infection) remains endemic in the UK, with ~300 laboratory diagnoses annually. Sub-clinically infected long-term carriers are considered a key driver of endemicity. Analysing genomes of circulating strains could provide valuable transmission insights of this pathogen. Objective: To determine the population structure and diversity of UK S. equi isolates and to model transmission using epidemiological and whole genome sequencing data. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional epidemiological and genomic surveillance. Methods: A dated phylogenetic tree derived from 511...
Ghielmetti G, Stevens MJA, Schmitt S, Kittl S, Cernela N, Biggel M, Schulthess B, Keller PM, Schrenzel J, Stephan R.Rhodococcus equi is an intracellular bacterial pathogen that can cause infections in various hosts, including humans and animals. Host-associated virulence plasmids have been identified as key contributors to the pathogenicity of R. equi and potentially play a role in determining the host tropism of the bacteria. The investigation of additional clinical and environmental isolates is likely to provide novel insights into the population structure, infection pathways, and drug resistance of this important pathogen. We combined whole-genome sequencing and antimicrobial-susceptibility testing of 37...
Zhang Z, Lu Z, Yao X, Li L, Meng J, Wang J, Zeng Y, Ren W.Kazakh mares have drawn significant attention for their outstanding lactation traits. Lactation, a complex physiological activity, is modulated by multiple factors. This study utilized high-throughput sequencing to conduct whole-transcriptome sequencing analysis on the mammary gland tissue of eight Kazakh mares, of which four were pregnant and four were non-pregnant, to systematically reveal the molecular regulatory mechanisms. The results showed differential expression in 2136 mRNAs, 180 lncRNAs, 104 miRNAs, and 1162 circRNAs. Gene ontology functional annotation indicates that these different...
Brodesser DM, Schlangen K, Rodríguez-Rojas A, Kuropka B, Doulidis PG, Brandt S, Pratscher B.Malignant melanoma (MM) affects not only humans but also animals, with gray horses being particularly predisposed to acquiring the disease. Multiomics have greatly advanced the understanding of human MM. In contrasty little is known regarding the pathogenesis of gray-horse melanoma and the unique phenomenon of melanoma "dormancy" in some animals. To help close this gap in knowledge, melanoma tissue and intact skin collected from gray horses were subjected to transcriptome analysis using RNAseq. In the next step, cultured primary tumor cells and normal skin fibroblasts were established from gra...
The Shagya Arabian horse breed was created to address the need of Imperial Hussars (Hungarian light horsemen) for a horse with the intelligence, essential characteristics, and endurance of the Arabian breed, but also of a bigger size and having a better weight-carrying capacity and jumping ability. The present study aimed to explore the genetic variability and population structure of the uninvestigated Shagya Arabian horse population in Bulgaria based on genotyping at 15 equine microsatellite markers. A total of 140 horses belonging to six genealogical lines (Dahoman, Gazal, Ibrahim, Kuhailan ...
subsp. (SEZ) is a bacterium that primarily affects horses but can also infect other animals and humans. In 2021-2022, two SEZ outbreaks occurred in Abruzzo, Italy: one in humans linked to unpasteurized cheese (37 cases) and another in donkeys (4 deaths). These events led researchers to investigate SEZ in horses, donkeys, and a mule in the regions of Abruzzo and Molise, focusing on antibiotic resistance and genetic traits. A total of 490 nasal and genital swabs were collected from equids and analyzed for SEZ presence, with 61 positive samples. Isolated strains underwent antimicrobial suscepti...
El-Geneady MA, Ramadan RM, Mahdy OA, Kamel MS, Salem MA.Hippobosca equina, a common ectoparasite of horses, poses a significant challenge to equine health worldwide. This study provides a molecular characterization of H. equina and examines its impact on host immune responses and oxidative stress. Genetic analysis of samples from various regions revealed notable homogeneity, indicating limited genetic variation among populations. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated close genetic relationships among sequences from Egypt, France, Kazakhstan and Portugal, while also showing comparable but more distant identities to sequences from China, Denmark, Finlan...
Weingarten A, Häusler M, Serangeli J, Verheijen I, Reiter E, Radzevičiūtė R, Stoessel A, Krause J, Spyrou MA, Conard NJ, Nieselt K, Posth C.Deep-time palaeogenomics offers rare insights into macroevolutionary events for both extant and extinct species. Aside from a Middle Pleistocene genome from North American permafrost (780-560 ka) and a number of Late Pleistocene specimens, most ancient horse DNA studies have focused on tracing the origins of domestication and subsequent periods. Here we present mitochondrial genomes from two Equus mosbachensis specimens from Schöningen, Germany, a Middle Pleistocene archaeological site complex with direct and repeated evidence of hominin-horse interactions on the shore of a palaeolake. Usin...
Núñez-Montero K, Leal K, Rojas-Villalta D, Castro M, Larronde C, Wagenknecht L, Contreras MJ.Studies on the bacterial composition of seminal samples have primarily focused on species isolated from semen and their effects on fertility and reproductive health. Culture-independent techniques, such as 16S rRNA gene sequencing and shotgun metagenomics, have revolutionized our ability to identify unculturable bacteria, which comprise >90% of the microbiome. These techniques allow for comprehensive analysis of microbial communities in seminal samples, shedding light on their interactions and roles. In this study, we characterized the taxonomic diversity of seminal microbial communities in he...
Hifumi T, Tanaka T, Suzu I, Sato M, Akioka K, Fujimata C, Shinkai R, Maeda T, Kusakisako K, Ikadai H, Miyoshi N.Alveolar echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease caused by a larval-stage infection. Geographical haplotyping targeting the parasite's mitochondrial cytochrome () gene has been reported for isolates from definitive and intermediate hosts (wild canids and rodents); however, there are limited reports on strain typing for the dead-end host, the horse, which could act as a sentinel for E. Accordingly, we investigated the diversity of in isolates obtained from slaughtered Japanese and Canadian horses originating from the Iburi and Hidaka regions in Hokkaido and from Alberta, respectively, with PCR ...
Haenni M, Châtre P, Drapeau A, Cazeau G, Troncy J, François P, Madec JY.Enterobacter hormaechei is an important pathogen in humans and animals, which, in addition to its intrinsic AmpC, can acquire a wide variety of genes conferring resistances to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) and carbapenems (CPs). In France, human clinical outbreaks of E. hormaechei resistant to ESC or carbapenem were reported. Objective: To study E. hormaechei isolates from cats and dogs (=59) as well as from horses (n = 55) presenting a non-susceptible phenotype to beta-lactams in order to determine which clones, resistance genes and plasmids are circulating in France. Methods: E. ho...
Cabrera G, Cabezas C, Estay-Olea D, Stoore C, Baquedano MS, Paredes R, Hidalgo C.Liver fluke infection, caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica, is a parasitic zoonotic disease affecting various mammals, including humans, and has significant implications for public, animal, and ecosystem health. This study provides the first genetic characterization of F. hepatica in Chile, focusing on the complete mitochondrial gene cox1. Samples were collected from two different host species: cattle and horses. Our findings revealed that 70 % of detected haplotypes were found in either cattle or horses, which coincides with their geographical origin. Interestingly, the use of full-len...
An T, Dugarjaviin M, Han H.The Mongolian horse, one of the oldest and most genetically diverse breeds, exhibits a wide variety of coat colors and patterns, including both wild-type and unique features. A notable characteristic of dun Mongolian horses is the presence of Bider markings-symmetrical, black-mottled patterns observed on the shoulder blades. These markings are also seen in Przewalski's horses. The dun coat color, a common wild-type phenotype in domestic horses, is characterized by pigment dilution with distinct dark areas and is regulated by mutations in the gene. This study aimed to investigate the role of ...
Radovic L, Remer V, Rigler D, Bozlak E, Allen L, Brem G, Reissman M, Brockmann GA, Ropka-Molik K, Stefaniuk-Szmukier M, Kalinkova L, Kalashnikov VV....Since their domestication, horses have accompanied mankind, and humans have constantly shaped horses according to their needs through stallion-centered breeding. Consequently, the male-specific portion of the Y chromosome (MSY) is extremely uniform in modern horse breeds. The majority of stallions worldwide carry MSY haplotypes (HT) attributed to an only ~1,500-y-old, so-called, "Crown" haplogroup. The predominance of the Crown in modern horse breeds is thought to represent a footprint of the vast impact of stallions of "Oriental origin" in the past millennium. Here, we report the results of a...
Sasaki M, Fukumoto N, Fukumoto S.A two-year-old male Japanese draft horse (known as a "Ban'ei horse") excreted eight cestodes. Based on their morphological features, they were identified as Anoplocephala perfoliata. The partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) sequences of the worms were nearly identical to A. perfoliata isolated from horses in Europe. The results of phylogenetic analyses of COI revealed that our samples and the European isolates formed the same clade, which was separate from Chinese and Australian isolates. Ban'ei horses were developed by crossbreeding draft horses imported from European co...
Bubenikova J, Plasil M, Futas J, Stejskalova K, Klumplerova M, Oppelt J, Suchentrunk F, Burger PA, Horin P.The immunogenome is the part of the genome that underlies immune mechanisms and evolves under various selective pressures. Two complex regions of the immunogenome, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and natural killer cell receptor (NKR) genes, play an important role in the response to selective pressures of pathogens. Their importance is expressed by their genetic polymorphism at the molecular level, and their diversity associated with different types of diseases at the population level. Findings of associations between specific combinations of MHC/NKR haplotypes with different diseases i...
Hrala M, Andrla P, Bosák J, Fedrová P, Mugutdinov A, Karpíšková R, Nedbalcová K, Raichová J, Faldyna M, Hořín P, Šmajs D.Taylorella equigenitalis is the causative agent of sexually transmitted contagious equine metritis. Infections manifest as cervicitis, vaginitis and endometritis and cause temporary infertility and miscarriages of mares. While previous studies have analyzed this organism for various parameters, the evolutionary dynamics of this pathogen, including the emergence of antibiotic resistance, remains unresolved. The aim of this study was to isolate contemporary strains, determine their genome sequences, evaluate their antibiotic resistance and compare them with other strains. We determined nine comp...
Onasanya AE, El-Hage C, Diaz-Méndez A, Vaz PK, Legione AR, Devlin JM, Hartley CA.Equid gammaherpesvirus 5 (EHV5) is closely related to equid gammaherpesvirus 2 (EHV2). Detection of EHV5 is frequent in horse populations worldwide, but it is often without a clear and significant clinical impact. Infection in horses can often present as subclinical disease; however, it has been associated with respiratory disease, including equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF). Genetic heterogeneity within small regions of the EHV5 glycoprotein B (gB) sequences have been reported and multiple genotypes of this virus have been identified within individual horses, but full genome seque...
Matsumura R, Bannai H, Nemoto M, Higa Y, Kai I, Sasaki T, Futami K, Yoshikawa A, Fujita R, Hino M, Nagata K, Kuwata R, Kaku Y, Kobayashi D....Getah virus (GETV), belonging to the genus Alphavirus within the family Togaviridae, is a mosquito-borne virus that causes fever, rash, edema in horses, fatalities, and pregnancy disorders in pigs. It has caused occasional outbreaks in horse populations in Japan, China, and India, and the endemic areas are gradually expanding, particularly in Asia and Oceania. In this study, we isolated a new GETV strain from Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes collected in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, in 2022. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that this new strain, 22IH8, was more closely related to previous C...
