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.
Borin G, Filippi B, Stivanello D, Marchiori F.A solution synthesis of Z-Gly-Thr-Lys (Tfa)-Met-Ile-Phe-Ala-Gly-Ile-Lys (Tfa)-Lys (Tfa)-NHNH-Boc corresponding to the sequence 77-87 of horse heart cytochrome c is described. The protected undecapeptide was obtained from intermediate hepta- and tetrapeptide fragments by an azide coupling.
Smyth JD.The genetics of speciation in the genus Echinococcus are briefly discussed. As the organism is a hermaphrodite and multiplies asexually in the larval stage, the genetic mechanism for the ready production of new strains is inherent in the life-cycle. Some biological, biochemical and nutritional differences between the horse and sheep strains are examined. The sheep strain may be grown to sexual maturity, in vitro, in a diphasic system; the horse strain fails to grow in such a system. Differences have also been demonstrated between the soluble proteins of the two strains. The sheep strain is inf...
Poppie MJ, McGuire TC.Combined immunodeficiency (CID), a defect in both B- and T-lymphocytes, was found to occur in 2.3% of 257 foals of Arabian breeding. All affected foals died by 5 months of age. The belief that CID is transmitted as an autosomal recessive genetic defect was supported by results from matings of dams and sires that had previously produced affected foals. Based on a prevalence of 2.3%, the proportion of carriers of the CID trait among the adult population surveyed was estimated to be 25.7%. Recent descriptions of other immunologic defects in foals emphasized the need for careful differential diagn...
Hubbard CD, Shoupe TS.A transient phase for the hydrolysis of indophenyl acetate by the commercial preparation of horse serum cholinesterase was observed on a stopped-flow spectrophotometer. It was found that the transient process is a reaction of the ester with a major component of the preparation and is not caused by the serum cholinesterase enzyme. This noncholinesterase component was isolated and the dependence of its concentration and that of the ester upon the transient liberation of the indophenolate ion were determined. Studies with the isolated component and subsequent analyses have led to the tentative id...
Ek N.The Pr protein, which is one of the major equine acidic prealbumins and which consists of a large number of phenotypes, has been studied with regard to its chemical identity. Serum samples of known Pr phenotype which had been treated with varying amounts of bovine trypsin were subjected to starch gel electrophoresis at pH 4.8. When a certain amount of trypsin was used, the Pr protein was markedly affected, whereas the other acidic prealbumins retained their normal electrophoreitic pattern. Extracts from three different regions of the acidic prealbumin field were tested by the casein precipitat...
Stewart F, Allen WR, Moor RM.Specific radioreceptor assays for FSH and LH, which employ tissue receptors from rat testis and highly purified human FSH (LER 1575-C) and LH (Hartree IRC-2, 24/6/69) as standards, have been developed to determine the FSH-like and LH-like activities in pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG). Measurements of FSH and LH concentrations in the serum of six pregnant Pony mares showed that the ratio of these two activities did not vary significantly between mares and remained constant between days 40 and 80 of gestation with a value of 1-45 +/- 0-04 (S.E.M.). The FSH:LH ratio of PMSG produced by cu...
Miller JR, Blake JW, Tobin T.An electron capturing derivative of apomorphine was prepared by incubating the drug with heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA), triethylamine and heat. Mass spectral analysis suggests that HFBA reacts with both phenolic hydroxyl groups on apomorphine to give a derivative detectable at low picogram levels. This method is sufficiently sensitive for pharmacokinetic studies in the horse and is likely applicable to other dopaminergic analogues of apomorphine.
The Journal of heredityNovember 1, 1976
Volume 67, Issue 6 361-367 doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a108753
Eldridge F, Blazak WF.Karyotypes of the horse with 64 chromosomes, the ass with 62 chromosomes, and the mule with 63 chromosomes are presented. The chromosome complements of each species and their mule hybrid are analyzed and compared.
McIlwraith CW, Owen RA, Basrur PK.Cytogenetic and histological studies were carried out on an intersex horse which was diagnosed clinically as a cryptorchid. Surgery confirmed the horse to be a bilateral abdominal cryptorchid and histological examination revealed ovarian tissue associated with the left epididymis. Chromosome analysis of cultured cells from testicular tissue, ovarian tissue and skin revealed 64-XX and 64-XY make-up, the left gonad containing a greater preponderance of XX cells over XY cells. The external characteristics and behaviour of the horse were indistinguishable from that of a "routine" cryptorchid. Othe...
Boyd JS.The deformities observed in 2 Clydesdale foals are described. Both had abnormal joint positions in the forelimbs and discrepancies in the symmetry of the vertebral column. The changes were only mild in one case but extreme in the other where it was accompanied by torticollis, scoliosis and vertebral fusion. A comparison is made with deformities described in the contracted foal syndrome and some of the developmental implications discussed.
Jones DM.A short account of the natural history of the wild Equidae is given as a background to their management in captivity. In general the approach to their husbandry and veterinary care is similar to that for the domestic horse. A mixture of etorphine and acepromazine has been found to be the most effective for handling and conventional methods of anaesthesia can be safely superimposed on these if required. The data collected at Whipsnade on the haematology and biochemistry of these species is summarised in tabular form and an analysis is included of the post-mortem examinations of 105 equine carca...
Falco MJ, Whitwell K, Palmer AC.Sixty-seven TB horses in Britain suffering from clinical wobbler disease were divided into 5 groups, based on the presence or absence of pathological lesions and their nature. These groups were compared genetically with a control group of 67 TBs known not to exhibit signs of wobbling. Though analysed for both simple and complex modes of inheritance no evidence of a genetic basis was found in any group. The high breed incidence in TBs may be real or apparent. Considerably more male than female wobblers are reported. Other forms of possibly inherited ataxia in equidae are reviewed and reference ...
Helmstaedter V, Feurle GE, Forssmann WG.Equine pancreas was investigated with immunohistochemical methods to study the distribution of endocrine cells immunoreactive to anti-insulin, anti-glucagon, and anti-somatostatin. A-cells demonstrable by anti-glucagon are located in the center of Langerhans islets and frequently in the duct epithelium. Few A-cells are seen associated to acini. Anti-insulin reactive B-cells form a large zone around the center of the Langerhans islets in which some B-cells lie between exocrine cells and others, although few, are located in the duct epithelium. D-cells stained with anti-somatostatin serum form a...
Wilbur DJ, Allerhand A.The titration behavior of individual tyrosine residues of myoglobins has been studied by observing the pH dependence of the chemical shifts of Czeta and Cgamma of these residues in natural abundance of 13C Fourier transform NMR spectra (at 15.18 MHz, in 20-mm sample tubes, at 37 degrees) of cyanoferrimyoglobins from sperm whale, horse, and red kangaroo. A comparison of the pH dependence of the spectra of the three proteins yielded specific assignments for the resonance of Tyr-151 (sperm whale) and Tyr-103 (sperm whale and horse). Selective proton decoupling yielded specific assignments for Cze...
al-Timimi I, Gaillard JL, Amri H, Silberzahn P.Whereas mare corpus luteum does not produce androgens or estrogens in vivo, the incubation of mare corpus luteum microsomes with progesterone and NADPH resulted in 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and estrogen production with a small yield of androstenedione. In the presence of an aromatase inhibitor (4-hydroxyandrostenedione), 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and androstenedione were accumulated. Aromatization of testosterone and androstenedione occurred via stereospecific loss of the 1 beta, 2 beta hydrogen atoms and was inhibited by MgCl2, KCl, and EDTA. The Km of estrogen synthetase from equine co...
Merkt H, Klug E.The rules for the minimal requirements in health and genital potency for stallions formulated by GOTZE (1950) are reformulated, taking into consideration the results achieved by KLUG (1982) and KENNEY (1983). A stallion must be free of phenotypic hereditary faults. Furthermore he has to be in general and genital health and must be fit in both, potentia coeundi and generandi. The figures are based on the examination of thoroughbred and so called "warmblood" stallions. However, they can be adapted to other breeds like draughthorses and ponys.
Obuch-Woszczatyński P, Pituch H, Martirosian G, Silva J, Meisel-Mikołajczyk F, Łuczak M.Seven Bacteroides fragilis strains were cultured from samples collected from horses. From all the tested strains, as well as from the reference B. fragilis strains: enterotoxigenic NCTC 11925 and nonenterotoxigenic IPL 323 strain, DNA was isolated using Genomic DNA PREP PLUS isolation kit manufactured by A&A Biotechnology (Poland). To detect the enterotoxin (fragilysin) gene, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied, using the following starters: 404 (GAG CCG AAG ACG GTG TAT GTG ATT TGT) and 407 (TGC TCA GCG CCC AGT ATA TGA CCT AGT). DNA obtained from bacterial cells was amplified in a ...
Dvoĭnos GM, Kharchenko VA, Zviagnitsova NS.The helminth fauna of 24 kulans from Askaniya-Nova and Badkhyz was studied. 42 species of helminths were found, 34 of which belong to strongylids. The helminth species composition of kulan is similar to that of other species of horses. This is a result of an intensive parasite exchange in the historical past when numerous populations of different Equidae species made long seasonal migrations over steppe inter-river lands of Asia and grazed for some time on common pastures.
McKenzie EC, Firshman AM.Chronic exertional rhabdomyolysis represents a syndrome of recurrent exercise-associated muscle damage in horses that arises from a variety of etiologies. Major advances have been made in the understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease, and causative genetic defects have been recently identified for two conditions-polysaccharide storage myopathy of quarter horses, paints, warm bloods, and draft breeds. Dietary management in combination with a regular exercise regimen comprises the most effective means for control of clinical signs.
Jollès J, Donda A, Amiguet P, Jollès P.Mare lactotransferrin has been purified and analyzed. Its molecular mass is 81 kDa. A 28 amino acid long N-terminal sequence was established and a first series of comparisons with other transferrins was performed.
Belloli C, Badino P, Carcano R, Odore R, Arioli F, Caloni F, Re G.The affinity and functional effects of isoxsuprine enantiomers were investigated to determine the enantiospecificity of the beta-agonistic and alpha-blocking effects. Functional assays on isolated smooth muscle preparations from equine common digital artery were performed to determine the apparent affinity (pD(2)) and intrinsic activity (alpha(E)) of (-)erythro-isoxsuprine (alphaS, betaR, gammaR) and (+)erythro-isoxsuprine (alphaR, betaS, gammaS). The affinity of two enantiomers for the different adrenoceptor types was studied by radioligand binding assays on membrane preparations from the sam...
Doerksen T, Bird E, Henningson J, Palinski R.Here, we report the near-complete genome sequences of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) serotype Indiana isolates from the 2020 U.S. outbreak. The sequences were obtained from swabs collected from Kansas horses in July and August. The four genome sequences help improve our understanding of VSV outbreak dynamics in the United States.
McClure JM.This article provides an overview of general health care management procedures commonly dealt with by racetrack practitioners. Although some of the conditions discussed are similar to those observed in a non-racetrack practice, the manner in which they are approached usually varies because of the unique circumstances encountered in the racetrack setting.
Akimenko ZA, Ofitserov VI, Shaprov VV, Iastrebov SI.Homogeneous (according to PAGE) capsid and surface viral proteins were isolated from concentrated purified suspensions of tick-borne encephalitis and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis viruses by one-stage reversed-phase HPLC. The amino acid composition and the sequences of their N-terminal parts were determined.
Huricha , Kawai M, Inose Y, Yamada F, Ninomiya S.In this study, we investigated maternal effects on the growth of Hokkaido native horses kept outdoors throughout the year. We used the data on body weight (BW), height at withers (HW), heart girth (HG), and cannon circumference (CC) of 517 foals during the first year of life to (1) examine the growth patterns by comparing six linear mixed models and (2) analyze the maternal effect on BW, HW, HG, and CC for each month by estimating variance components. The segmented polynomial third-order regression equation was selected as the best model for all the traits. The estimated proportion of variance...