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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Evidence for origin of lavender foal syndrome among Egyptian...
Equine veterinary journal2022; 55(3); 487-493; doi: 10.1111/evj.13604

Evidence for origin of lavender foal syndrome among Egyptian Arabian horses in Egypt.

Abstract: Lavender foal syndrome (LFS) is a fatal hereditary condition that is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. This detrimental mutation is more common in Arabian foals of Egyptian origin than foals from other bloodlines. Heterozygous horses are carriers of the LFS trait and appear normal, while recessive homozygous foals died shortly after birth due to serious complications. In Egypt, in 2014, an Egyptian foal died after manifestations of neurological signs and abnormal coat colour as LFS signs. Therefore, it is important to identify LFS carriers in the population of Arabian horses in Egypt and to encourage improvement of the Arabian horse industry in Egypt by constructing a breeding system based on genetic background in order to avoid mating between carriers and reduce financial losses from deaths of affected foals. Objective: To establish a PCR-based test for detecting the MYO5A gene mutation causing LFS in the registered Arabian horse population in Egypt prior to breeding. Methods: Cross sectional survey (n = 170) plus targeted sampling (n = 30). Methods: A total of 200 samples were collected from an Arabian farm in Egypt and some of them were traced for LFS based on the farm records. The LFS genotypes were identified using the PCR-RFLP technique, fragment analysis followed by sequence analysis. Results: The overall mutated allele and genotype frequencies (N/L) were 0.08 and 16%, respectively. Conclusions: The observed frequency of heterozygotes suggests foals affected with LFS will be produced among Arabian horses in Egypt. Therefore, screening of the entire population for this mutation should be undertaken in the breeding program. Unassigned: Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS) ist eine fatale, erbbedingte Krankheit, welche in einem autosomal rezessiven Muster vererbt wird. Diese nachteilige Mutation ist häufiger in Araber Fohlen ägyptischer Herkunft als in anderen Blutlinien. Heterozygote Pferde sind Träger des LFS Merkmals und erscheinen normal, während rezessiv homozygote Fohlen kurz nach der Geburt durch schwerwiegende Komplikationen sterben. In Ägypten wurde 2014 von einem ägyptischen Fohlen berichtet, welches nach Manifestationen von neurologischen Anzeichen sowie abnormaler Fellfarbe hinweisend auf LFS starb. Deshalb ist es wichtig, LFS-Träger in der Population der Araber Pferde in Ägypten zu identifizieren. Unassigned: Das Hauptziel der Studie war die Entwicklung eines PCR-basierten Tests für die Entdeckung der MYO5A Genmutation, welche LSF in der Population registrierter Araber Pferde in Ägypten verursacht, vor der Zucht, um die Anpaarung von Trägern zu vermeiden und die finanziellen Verluste durch Todesfälle betroffener Fohlen zu reduzieren. Ein weiteres Ziel war außerdem die Verbesserung der Araber Pferde-Industrie in Ägypten durch Aufbau eines auf genetischen Hintergrund basierenden Zuchtprogrammes. Methods: Insgesamt wurden 200 Proben von Arabergestüten in Ägypten gesammelt und manche davon wurden auf LFS untersucht basierend auf Gestütsdokumenten. Die LFS Genotypen wurden identifiziert mithilfe der PCR-RFLP Technik, Fragmentanalyse wurde gefolgt von Sequenzanalyse. Unassigned: Die insgesamte Häufigkeit mutierter Allele und Genotypen (N/L) war 0.08 beziehungsweise 16%. Unassigned: Die beobachtete Häufigkeit heterozygoter Träger legt nahe, dass zukünftig LFS-betroffene Fohlen unter Araber Pferden in Ägypten gezüchtet werden. Deshalb sollte im Zuchtprogramm ein Screening der gesamten Population auf diese Mutation hin unternommen werden.
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Publication Date: 2022-07-12 PubMed ID: 35665534DOI: 10.1111/evj.13604Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates the origins of Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS), a fatal genetic condition, among Egyptian Arabian horses. The study establishes a PCR-based test to identify carrier horses harboring the LFS gene mutation before breeding, aiming to minimize the breeding of affected foals and improve the Egyptian Arabian horse industry.

Objective of the Research

  • The research aimed to detect the MYO5A gene mutation causing Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS) in the Arabian horse population in Egypt before breeding. The objective is to avoid mating between carriers of this fatal gene and thus minimize the financial losses incurred due to the death of affected foals shortly after their birth.
  • An underlying goal of the research project is to help improve the Arabian horse industry in Egypt through the establishment of a breeding system informed by genetic profiles.

Methods Used in the Study

  • For the study, a total of 200 samples were collected from an Arabian horse farm in Egypt. Some of these samples were further scrutinized for signs of LFS based on farm records.
  • The LFS genotypes among these samples were identified through a technique known as PCR-RFLP, followed by fragment analysis and sequence analysis. This technique was instrumental in helping determine the presence of the MYO5A gene mutation responsible for causing LFS.

Research Findings

  • The research was able to establish the mutated allele and genotype frequencies at 0.08 and 16% respectively. This data demonstrates the prevalence of the mutation responsible for LFS among the sampled population.
  • One major discovery was the relatively high frequency of heterozygote carriers. Heterozygote horses carry one copy of the LFS gene and appear normal, but they can pass on the gene to their offspring. The prevalence of these carriers suggests that without intervention, future generations of Egyptian Arabian horses are at risk of inheriting and manifesting the disease.

Conclusions and Recommendations

  • The research concluded that due to the observed frequency of heterozygote carriers, it is likely that LFS-affected foals will continue to be born among the Arabian horse population in Egypt.
  • The researchers recommend that a comprehensive screening of the total population for this mutation should be implemented within the breeding program. This will help identify and isolate carriers before breeding, thereby reducing the likelihood of producing LFS-affected foals.

Cite This Article

APA
AbouEl Ela NH, El Araby IE, Saleh AA, Abd El-Fattah AH, Hagag NM, Brooks SA, Radwan MA, Kalbfleisch T. (2022). Evidence for origin of lavender foal syndrome among Egyptian Arabian horses in Egypt. Equine Vet J, 55(3), 487-493. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13604

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 55
Issue: 3
Pages: 487-493

Researcher Affiliations

AbouEl Ela, Nahla Hussien
  • Genome Research Unit, Animal Health Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
El Araby, Iman E
  • Animal Wealth Development Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
Saleh, Ayman A
  • Animal Wealth Development Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
Abd El-Fattah, Amir H
  • Animal Wealth Development Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
Hagag, Naglaa M
  • Genome Research Unit, Animal Health Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
Brooks, Samantha A
  • Department of Animal Sciences, UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Radwan, Mohamed A
  • Genome Research Unit, Animal Health Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
Kalbfleisch, Ted
  • Department of Veterinary Science, College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Egypt / epidemiology
  • Genotype
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / genetics
  • Horses
  • Myosin Type V / genetics
  • Syndrome
  • Mutation

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This article includes 20 references
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