Genetic and environmental risk factors for vitiligo and melanoma in Pura Raza Español horses.
Abstract: Vitiligo and melanoma are relatively common disorders in grey Pura Raza Español horses and other horse breeds with grey-coloured coats. Objective: To determine the breed prevalence, environmental risks factors and estimate the genetic parameters for vitiligo and melanoma in Pura Raza Español horses. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: We analysed data from a large worldwide population of Pura Raza Español horses. The database included the vitiligo and melanoma scores, on either a four- or six-point linear scale, of 11,436 horses. Genetic parameters were estimated using a Bayesian genetic animal model including the four associated environmental risk factors as systematic effects. Inbreeding was used as a covariate, and animal and residual effects were included as random effects. Results: Of the horses included in the study, 2.8 and 20.5% showed some traces of vitiligo around the eyes and mouth, respectively, while 1.6% showed varying degrees of melanoma. Age, coat colour and inbreeding were significantly associated with the three outcomes studied. The estimated heritability for the whole population was 0.09 (s.d. +0.019), 0.44 (s.d. +0.031) and 0.13 (s.d. +0.037), for eye vitiligo score, nostril vitiligo score and melanoma scores respectively. The genetic correlations ranged from 0.42 (s.d. +0.084) between eye and nostril vitiligo score to 0.15 (s.d. +0.096) between nostril vitiligo and melanoma. Conclusions: Vitiligo scores for the perianal regions were not collected. The veterinarian responsible for each assessment was not recorded. Conclusions: Vitiligo and melanoma are prevalent in this population and those environmental risk factors and genetics both have an effect on the clinical expression of the diseases. These findings may help to reduce prevalence through breeding programmes.
© 2019 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2019-02-01 PubMed ID: 30624804DOI: 10.1111/evj.13067Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research study examines the prevalence, environmental risk factors, and genetic parameters of vitiligo and melanoma in Pura Raza Español horses, using a large global population sample. It concludes that both these conditions are common among these horses, influenced by several environmental and genetic factors, which could potentially be managed via specific breeding programs.
Objective and Methods
- The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to determine the breed prevalence, environmental risk factors and gauge the genetic variables for vitiligo and melanoma in Pura Raza Español horses, a breed known for grey-coloured coats.
- The study used data from a large worldwide population of Pura Raza Español horses with vitiligo and melanoma scores. The database had information encompassing the vitiligo and melanoma scores (rated on either a four- or six-point linear scale) of 11,436 horses.
- A Bayesian genetic animal model was employed to estimate the genetic parameters, considering the four associated environmental risk factors as systematic effects.
- In the model, inbreeding was used as a covariate, while animal and residual effects were included as random effects.
Results
- Out of all horses that were part of the study, 2.8% displayed signs of vitiligo around the eyes, while 20.5% showed signs around the mouth. Melanoma was detected in 1.6% of the horses, with varying degrees.
- The study identified age, coat colour and inbreeding as three factors that were significantly associated with the occurrence of these outcomes.
- The estimated heritability for the entire population was 0.09, 0.44 and 0.13 for eye vitiligo score, nostril vitiligo score and melanoma scores respectively.
- The genetic correlations ranged from 0.42 between eye and nostril vitiligo score to 0.15 between nostril vitiligo and melanoma.
Conclusions
- Interestingly, the study did not collect vitiligo scores for the perianal regions, and the vet responsible for each assessment wasn’t recorded.
- The conclusion drawn by the study states that vitiligo and melanoma are prevalent in the studied population with significant influences from environmental risk factors and genetics on the manifestation of the diseases.
- This research could prove valuable in developing measures to reduce the prevalence of these disorders through targeted breeding programs.
Cite This Article
APA
Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Solé M, Azor PJ, Sölkner J, Valera M.
(2019).
Genetic and environmental risk factors for vitiligo and melanoma in Pura Raza Español horses.
Equine Vet J, 51(5), 606-611.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13067 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Agro-Forestry Sciences, ETSIA, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Agro-Forestry Sciences, ETSIA, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
- Division of Livestock Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Agro-Forestry Sciences, ETSIA, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
MeSH Terms
- Aging
- Animals
- Female
- Genetic Predisposition to Disease
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horses
- Inbreeding
- Male
- Melanoma / etiology
- Melanoma / genetics
- Melanoma / veterinary
- Risk Factors
- Skin Pigmentation
- Vitiligo / etiology
- Vitiligo / genetics
- Vitiligo / veterinary
Grant Funding
- University of Seville
- National Association of Pura Raza Espau00f1ol Horse Breeders
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Encina A, Ligero M, Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Rodríguez-Sainz de Los Terreros A, Bartolomé E, Valera M. Phenotypic and Genetic Study of the Presence of Hair Whorls in Pura Raza Español Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Sep 16;13(18).
- Pimenta J, Prada J, Cotovio M. Equine Melanocytic Tumors: A Narrative Review.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 10;13(2).
- Bartolomé E, Perdomo-González DI, Ripollés-Lobo M, Valera M. Basal Reactivity Evaluated by Infrared Thermography in the "Caballo de Deporte Español" Horse Breed According to Its Coat Color.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Sep 21;12(19).
- Druml T, Brem G, Velie B, Lindgren G, Horna M, Ricard A, Grilz-Seger G. Equine vitiligo-like depigmentation in grey horses is related to genes involved in immune response and tumor metastasis.. BMC Vet Res 2021 Oct 25;17(1):336.
- Vostry L, Vostra-Vydrova H, Citek J, Gorjanc G, Curik I. Association of inbreeding and regional equine leucocyte antigen homozygosity with the prevalence of insect bite hypersensitivity in Old Kladruber horse.. Anim Genet 2021 Aug;52(4):422-430.
- Ripolles M, Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Perdomo-González DI, Azor P, Valera M. Survey of Risk Factors and Genetic Characterization of Ewe Neck in a World Population of Pura Raza Español Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 1;10(10).
- Perdomo-González DI, Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Molina A, Valera M. Genetic Structure Analysis of the Pura Raza Español Horse Population through Partial Inbreeding Coefficient Estimation.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Aug 6;10(8).
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