Gestation length is associated with early-life limb deformities in Thoroughbred foals.
Abstract: Flexural and angular limb deformities (LD) are an important cause of early-life morbidity and mortality/euthanasia in Thoroughbred foals. The majority are congenital in origin but, to date, their precise aetiology is poorly understood. We hypothesised that maternal- and pregnancy-level factors, particularly those with potential to influence in-utero growth and development, could play an important role. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate associations between such factors and early-life LD in Thoroughbred foals. A birth cohort was established on seven farms across the United Kingdom and Ireland and details of veterinary interventions for LD in foals in the first six months of life prospectively recorded. Details of dams' signalment, breeding history and reproductive and veterinary history in the breeding season(s) of interest were retrieved retrospectively from stud farm and veterinary records. Associations between mare- and pregnancy-level factors and LD in offspring were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Records were available for 275 pregnancies in 235 mares, over two breeding seasons. Pregnancies resulted in the birth of 272 live foals, 21% of which (n=57/272, 95%CI 16-26) required veterinary intervention for LD in the first six months of life. Odds of LD decreased by 4% per day increase in gestation length between 314 and 381 days (OR 0.96, 95%CI 0.93-0.99, P=0.01). Longer gestation length appears to reduce the odds of early-life LD, including within the normal range of gestation length for Thoroughbred foals. Further work is required to elucidate biological mechanisms behind this association.
Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2023-08-02 PubMed ID: 37541603DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104896Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study focuses on limb deformities (LD) in Thoroughbred foals. These deformities can result in significant health issues for young horses, including the possibility of death or the need for euthanasia.
Background:
- Limb deformities can either be present at birth (congenital) or develop later.
- The exact cause of these deformities is not well-understood.
- The researchers believe that factors related to the mother (mare) and the pregnancy could influence the development of these deformities. These factors could impact the growth and development of the foal while it’s in the womb.
Objective: The main goal of this research was to determine if there’s a link between maternal and pregnancy-related factors and the development of limb deformities in Thoroughbred foals.
Method:
- The researchers tracked a group of foals born on seven different farms in the UK and Ireland.
- They recorded instances where the foals needed veterinary care due to limb deformities during their first six months of life.
- Information about the mares, including their medical and breeding history, was collected.
- The researchers then used statistical methods (multivariable logistic regression) to see if there was any correlation between the mares’ details and the likelihood of their offspring developing limb deformities.
Findings:
- Out of 275 pregnancies, 272 live foals were born.
- 21% of these foals (57 out of 272) needed veterinary care for limb deformities during their first six months.
- One significant finding was that the longer the pregnancy (gestation) lasted, the lower the chances were of the foal developing a limb deformity. Specifically, for every additional day the pregnancy lasted between 314 and 381 days, the odds of the foal developing a deformity reduced by 4%.
Conclusion: The length of the pregnancy seems to play a role in the development of limb deformities in Thoroughbred foals. Even within what’s considered a “normal” pregnancy length for these horses, longer pregnancies seem to be beneficial. However, more research is needed to understand why this is the case.
Cite This Article
APA
Mouncey R, Arango-Sabogal JC, de Mestre AM, Verheyen KL.
(2023).
Gestation length is associated with early-life limb deformities in Thoroughbred foals.
J Equine Vet Sci.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104896 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, AL9 7TA, UK. Electronic address: rmouncey18@rvc.ac.uk.
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, AL9 7TA, UK; Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, J2S 2M2, Canada.
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, AL9 7TA, UK.
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, AL9 7TA, UK.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of Competing Interest none
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Pasolini MP, Auletta L, De Biase D, Vaccaro E, Del Prete C, Montano C, de Chiara M, Di Napoli E, Paciello O, Piegari G. Clinical and Pathological Features of Flexural Deformities Associated with Myopathies in Foals. Vet Sci 2025 Jun 6;12(6).
- Ma Y, Liu Y, Li H, Yang K, Yao G. Changes in blood physiological and biochemical parameters and intestinal flora in newborn horses and mares with angular limb deformities. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1503117.
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