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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Osteochondrosis in horses: An overview of genetic and other ...
Equine veterinary journal2025; doi: 10.1111/evj.14518

Osteochondrosis in horses: An overview of genetic and other factors.

Abstract: Osteochondrosis (OC) is a frequent manifestation of developmental orthopaedic disease, and its severe clinical presentation is known as OC dissecans (OCD). OC is defined as a disruption of the endochondral ossification process in the epiphyseal cartilage, and this disease has been reported in different mammalian species, including humans, dogs, pigs, and horses. OCD is an important cause of lameness in sport horses and is a common cause of impaired orthopaedic potential, whose clinical signs may be of minimal magnitude or manifest as severe joint effusion or clinically noticeable lameness. The aetiology of OCD is unknown, although it has traditionally been considered to be multifactorial. In addition to genetic factors, associated factors include both non-genetic elements such as rapid growth, nutrition, trauma, anatomical conformation, and biomechanics. Since the prevalence of the disease varies greatly depending on the horse breed, from 13% in Swedish Warmblood to 53% in Lusitano breed, genetic factors have a great relevance in the appearance and development of OCD in horses. Many genetic modifications have been related, and the genes involved can be grouped into five clusters, related to fundamental functions for the correct development and regeneration of cartilage, such as collagen, laminin, cell signalling, matrix turnover, and transcriptional regulation. Changes in genes such as COL3A1, COL5A1, COL5A2, COL24A1, COL27A1 (collagen cluster), LAMB1 (laminin cluster), PTH, PHT receptors, and IHH (cell signalling), and genes encoding matrix metalloproteinases have been related to the occurrence and severity of diseases in different equine breeds. This review summarises the main factors associated with OC in horses, with particular emphasis on genetic factors.
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Publication Date: 2025-04-29 PubMed ID: 40302410DOI: 10.1111/evj.14518Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 article provides an overview of osteochondrosis (OC), a common orthopedic issue in horses, highlighting the influence of genetic and other factors on its occurrence. The paper also intensively examines the prevalence of the disease in different horse breeds and the implication of changes in certain genetic clusters related to collagen, laminin, cell signaling, matrix turnover, and transcriptional regulation.

Explanation of the Research

The research focuses on the osteochondrosis (OC) disease in horses which affects the ossification process in their cartilage. This disease presents severe clinical cases known as OC dissecans (OCD) and causes lameness in sport horses, impairing their orthopaedic potential.

  • The researchers explain how the disease manifests in different forms, from minimal signs to severe joint inflammation or noticeable lameness.
  • The cause of OC remains unknown, but the research emphasizes its multifactorial nature, involving numerous genetic and non-genetic factors such as rapid growth, nutrition, trauma, anatomical conformation, and biomechanics.

Prevalence and Genetic Factors of OC in Horses

One of the significant aspects highlighted is the disparity in OC prevalence among different horse breeds.

  • The study finds the prevalence range varying from 13% in Swedish Warmblood horses to a whopping 53% in Lusitano breed horses, underlying the role of genetic factors in the development and manifestation of OCD in horses.
  • The investigation identifies a host of genetic alterations linked to OC in horses, categorized into five clusters, each of which correlates to critical functions for healthy cartilage development and regeneration.

Implication of Changes in Genetic Clusters

The researchers provide a detailed account of how changes in specific genes from these clusters are potentially related to the occurrence and severity of OC in different horse breeds.

  • These genes include COL3A1, COL5A1, COL5A2, COL24A1, COL27A1 from the collagen cluster; LAMB1 from the laminin cluster; PTH, PHT receptors, and IHH from the cell signalling cluster; and genes encoding matrix metalloproteinases.
  • By highlighting these genetic aspects, the study underscores the importance of further research on genetic influence to understand better and potentially manage OC in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Martinez-Saez L, Marín-García PJ, Llobat ML. (2025). Osteochondrosis in horses: An overview of genetic and other factors. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14518

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Martinez-Saez, Lola
  • Molecular Mechanisms of Zoonotic Diseases (MMOPS) Research Group, Departamento Producción y Sanidad Animal, Salud Pública y Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos (PASAPTA), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Valencia, Spain.
Marín-García, Pablo J
  • Departamento Producción y Sanidad Animal, Salud Pública y Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos (PASAPTA), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Valencia, Spain.
Llobat, M Lola
  • Molecular Mechanisms of Zoonotic Diseases (MMOPS) Research Group, Departamento Producción y Sanidad Animal, Salud Pública y Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos (PASAPTA), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Valencia, Spain.

Grant Funding

  • GIR23-35 / Universidad San Pablo CEU
  • IDOC23-01 / Universidad San Pablo CEU
  • INDI23-35 / Universidad San Pablo CEU

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