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Genetic parameters of insect bite hypersensitivity in the Old Grey Kladruber horse.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to assess the genetic parameters of insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) in the Old Grey Kladruber horse, an original Czech warmblood horse breed. Insect bite hypersensitivity is a recurrent allergic skin disease affecting horses worldwide. Its etiology is multifactorial. The defect is genetically controlled, and the starting impulse is a bite by midges of the spp. and less frequently spp. Knowledge about the associated genes is limited. Horses were kept by the National Stud in Kladruby (1,146 measurements) and by 10 private breeders (63 measurements). The horses were visually scored by the same inspector over a period of 13 yr from 1996 to 2009. A linear logistic model with a binary variable was used for subsequent statistical analysis. The fixed effects of the farm, year of evaluation, age of evaluation, and sex were significant, and the nonsignificant effect was the intensity of greying. The animals from the National Stud were more strongly affected by IBH than animals from private studs. The National Stud is located near the Labe River, at an altitude of 206 m; there are bottomland pastures in the vicinity, blind river arms, and numerous pools and marshes, and the climate is mild. These conditions are convenient for horse keeping but also for the propagation of . The stallions were less affected than the mares. The occurrence in years of age was influenced by selection; scoring began in the first year of age, and when the young animal was repeatedly positive, it was eliminated from breeding. The estimated h differed significantly from 0, and the direct h were 0.626 in the animal model with a maternal effect, 0.359 in the animal model without a maternal effect, and 0.363 in the animal model without correlation between direct and maternal effect. The maternal h was 0.305. The estimated repeatabilities were 0.636 with a maternal effect, 0.615 without a maternal effect, and 0.623 without correlation. The h of IBH was found to be medium to high, so there is a possibility to reduce the prevalence of IBH by selection.
Publication Date: 2017-02-09 PubMed ID: 28177358DOI: 10.2527/jas.2016.0745Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research study investigates the genetic influence on insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) in the Old Grey Kladruber horse. It indicates that genetic factors play a significant role in this allergic skin condition, and through targeted breeding practices, the prevalence of IBH can potentially be reduced.
Objective and Background
- The main purpose of the study was to evaluate the genetic aspects of insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) among the Old Grey Kladruber horse breed, a unique Czech warmblood horse breed.
- IBH is a recurrent allergic skin condition known to affect horses on a global scale. Triggers for this allergic reaction are usually bites from certain insect species.
- While the exact genetic markers linked to this allergic response are not yet clearly articulated, the research recognizes the genetic element in this condition.
Methodology
- The study involved horses kept at the National Stud in Kladruby and ten other private breeders. This provided a data pool of over 1,209 visual inspection records, collected over 13 years from 1996 to 2009.
- A fixed effects model was used to evaluate these records, accounting for variables such as the farm’s location, year of evaluation, horse age and sex during evaluation. The only variable that did not register as significant was the intensity of the horses’ greying.
Findings
- Results suggested that horses from the National Stud showed more pronounced IBH symptoms. This increase is possibly attributed to its location near the Labe River with its numerous pools and marshes, which provided favourable conditions for the insects causing the allergic reactions.
- The study found that stallions were generally less affected by IBH than mares.
- The data also indicated that age influenced IBH occurrence. Younger horses were selectively bred out of the study if they showed recurrent positive testing for IBH.
Implications and Conclusion
- The study indicated that the genetic influence (h statistics) on IBH ranged from medium to high, suggesting a substantial impact of genetics on the disease’s occurrence.
- These findings imply that by controlling breeding practices, it might be possible to reduce the prevalence of IBH among the Old Grey Kladruber horse and potentially other horse breeds.
Cite This Article
APA
Citek J, Vostry L, Vostra-Vydrova H, Brzakova M, Prantlova V.
(2017).
Genetic parameters of insect bite hypersensitivity in the Old Grey Kladruber horse.
J Anim Sci, 95(1), 53-58.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2016.0745 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Aging
- Animals
- Czech Republic / epidemiology
- Female
- Genetic Predisposition to Disease
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horses
- Hypersensitivity / genetics
- Hypersensitivity / veterinary
- Insect Bites and Stings / immunology
- Insect Bites and Stings / veterinary
- Linear Models
- Male
- Models, Genetic
- Prevalence
- Sex Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- 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.
- Torsteinsdottir S, Scheidegger S, Baselgia S, Jonsdottir S, Svansson V, Björnsdottir S, Marti E. A prospective study on insect bite hypersensitivity in horses exported from Iceland into Switzerland. Acta Vet Scand 2018 Nov 3;60(1):69.
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