Genome-Wide Association Analyses of Osteochondrosis in Belgian Warmbloods Reveal Candidate Genes Associated With Chondrocyte Development.
Abstract: Osteochondrosis (OC) is an important skeletal disease causing profound welfare concerns in horses. Although numerous studies have explored the genetics underlying OC in various breeds, the Belgian Warmblood (BW) remains unstudied despite having a concerning prevalence of 32.0%. As a result, this study aimed to conduct genome-wide association (GWA) analyses to identify candidate variants associated with OC in BWs. To achieve this, blood samples and radiographs were collected from 407 Belgian Warmbloods registered to one of two BW studbooks (Belgisch Warmbloedpaard and Zangersheide), and genotyping was performed using the 670K Axiom Equine Genotyping Array. GWA analyses using a principle component approach were then performed on OC status (OCS; presence or absence of OC at any joint), hock OC status (HOC) and stifle OC status (SOC). These analyses yielded significantly associated (P < .01) SNPs on Equus caballus chromosome (ECA) 3, ECA 12, and ECA 18 for OCS; however, no single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) reached significance for HOC or SOC. Subsequent analysis of candidate genes within 500 kilobases of the significant SNPs revealed functions broadly related to cell differentiation and chondrocyte development. While this study represents another step forward in uncovering variants and biological pathways associated with OC, additional studies are needed to validate the newly identified candidate SNPs for OC in BWs. Further studies of OC in BWs, as well as other breeds, are critical in our efforts to fully understand the disease's etiopathogenesis and ultimately provide breeding programs better equipped to improve horse health and well-being.
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2022-01-21 PubMed ID: 35074400DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.103870Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article discusses a study that aimed to uncover genetic factors associated with Osteochondrosis (OC), a skeletal disease affecting horses, in Belgian Warmbloods (BW) breeds, as these breeds have been inadequately studied despite having a high prevalence of the disease. The researchers conducted genome-wide association analyses, using blood samples and radiographs from 407 horses, and identified potential candidate variants linked to OC.
Study Objective and Methodology
- The aim of this study was to explore the uncharted territory of the genetic underpinnings of Osteochondrosis (OC) in Belgian Warmbloods (BW). OC is an important skeletal disease that raises severe animal welfare concerns. Despite numerous studies focusing on other breeds, no significant research had been conducted on BWs, which have an alarming 32.0% prevalence of the disease.
- The researchers collected blood samples and radiographs from 407 BWs registered under two studbooks. The genotyping was performed using the 670K Axiom Equine Genotyping Array, and Genome-Wide Association (GWA) analyses were subsequently conducted.
- They performed GWA analyses on three specific parameters: overall OC status (OCS, referring to the presence or absence of OC at any joint), hock OC status (HOC), and stifle OC status (SOC).
Results and Findings
- The researchers found significant associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) present on chromosomes ECA 3, ECA 12, and ECA 18 and the overall OC status. Notably, these SNPs showed no significant linkage with HOC or SOC.
- When they explored candidate genes within 500 kilobases of the significant SNPs, they found that these genes are mostly related to cell differentiation and chondrocyte (the only cells found in healthy cartilage) development.
Conclusion and Future Studies
- The findings of this study contribute to the broader understanding of variants and biological pathways associated with OC. These results found are especially important because they relate to a previously less studied horse breed with a high prevalence of the disease.
- However, the researchers note that more studies are needed to confirm these results and to further investigate the candidate SNPs identified in this study. Future research will undoubtedly help us fully understand the disease’s etiopathogenesis, enabling more effective breeding programs focused on improving horse health and well-being.
Cite This Article
APA
Drabbe A, Janssens S, Blott S, Ducro BJ, Fontanel M, Francois L, Schurink A, Stinckens A, Lindgren G, Van Mol B, Pille F, Buys N, Velie BD.
(2022).
Genome-Wide Association Analyses of Osteochondrosis in Belgian Warmbloods Reveal Candidate Genes Associated With Chondrocyte Development.
J Equine Vet Sci, 111, 103870.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.103870 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Genetics & Genomics Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- Livestock Genetics, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- School of Veterinary Medicine & Science, University of Nottingham, Leicestershire, UK.
- Animal Breeding & Genomics, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
- Agrosup Dijon, Institut national supérieur des sciences agronomiques et de l'alimentation et de l'environnement, Dijon Cedex, France.
- Livestock Genetics, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Animal Breeding & Genomics, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
- Livestock Genetics, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Animal Breeding & Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Livestock Genetics, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Equine Genetics & Genomics Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: brandon.velie@sydney.edu.au.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Belgium
- Cell Differentiation
- Chondrocytes / pathology
- Genome-Wide Association Study / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horses / genetics
- Osteochondrosis / genetics
- Osteochondrosis / veterinary
Conflict of Interest Statement
Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Dementieva N, Nikitkina E, Shcherbakov Y, Nikolaeva O, Mitrofanova O, Ryabova A, Atroshchenko M, Makhmutova O, Zaitsev A. The Genetic Diversity of Stallions of Different Breeds in Russia.. Genes (Basel) 2023 Jul 24;14(7).
- Hill EW, Stoffel MA, McGivney BA, MacHugh DE, Pemberton JM. Inbreeding depression and the probability of racing in the Thoroughbred horse.. Proc Biol Sci 2022 Jun 29;289(1977):20220487.
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