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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(8); 1214; doi: 10.3390/ani14081214

The Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Chronic Progressive Lymphedema and Body Traits in the Rhenish German Draught Horse.

Abstract: Chronic progressive lymphedema (CPL) is a prevalent and progressive disease in Rhenish German draught horses. The objective of our follow-up study was to evaluate the heritability of this disease in Rhenish German draught horses using pedigree-based and genomic relationship matrices. We employed linear and threshold animal models. Models included the random animal effect and effects of breeding association, coat colour, sex, and age within sex, and farm-related factors, on CPL scores. In addition, we estimated heritabilities in models assuming censoring for data when horses were below an age of 1-15 years. The heritabilities of CPL scores across all ages were 0.595 ± 0.131 and 0.482 ± 0.105 in the threshold and linear animal model with pedigree-based relationship matrices, respectively. The restriction of data to horses with a minimum age at examination or accounting for censored data in younger animals showed an increase in heritabilities of CPL scores up to 0.788 ± 0.168 (threshold model) and 0.752 ± 0.153 (linear model) at an age of 7-8 years. Analyses including genomic relationship matrices yielded very similar estimates, but with smaller standard errors than pedigree-based analyses. Heritabilities in threshold models for CPL prevalence (CPL-bin-score) and the number of affected limbs (CPL-bin-sum) were 0.176-0.189 ± 0.061-0.064 and 0.375-0.433 ± 0.164-0.170, respectively. We were able to show moderately to highly positive genetic correlations between the CPL score and cannon bone circumference (0.529-0.825), height at withers (0.338-0.555), and skinfold thickness (0.241-0.517). Using the dichotomous trait for the CPL score and the genomic relationship matrix resulted in corresponding estimates of 0.868, 0.793, and 0.784, respectively. This study showed the great importance of additive genetic variation influencing the expression of chronic progressive lymphedema in Rhenish German draught horses. Therefore, further research is warranted to implement breeding programmes in a small breeding population that exploit the potential of additive genetic differences among animals for reducing the prevalence and severity of lesions of this incurable disease.
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Publication Date: 2024-04-18 PubMed ID: 38672362PubMed Central: PMC11047459DOI: 10.3390/ani14081214Google 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 focuses on assessing the heritability of Chronic Progressive Lymphedema (CPL), a common and escalating disease in Rhenish German draught horses, through the use of pedigree-based and genomic relationship matrices. The study findings suggest a significant role of additive genetic variation in CPL occurrence, thus emphasizing the need for further research to establish breeding programs that reduce the disease’s prevalence and severity.

Objective and Methodology

  • The primary objective of this follow-up study was to determine the heritability of CPL in Rhenish German draught horses. This was performed by utilizing pedigree-based and genomic relationship matrices.
  • The research employed linear and threshold animal models, taking into account various factors like breeding association, coat colour, sex, age within sex, farm-related factors, and CPL scores.
  • The study also estimated heritabilities by assuming the censoring of data for horses below an age range of 1-15 years.

Findings

  • Across all ages, the heritabilities of CPL scores were calculated to be 0.595 ± 0.131 (threshold model) and 0.482 ± 0.105 (linear model) using pedigree-based relationship matrices.
  • The data restriction to horses with a minimum age or by accounting for censored data in younger animals showed increased heritabilities of CPL scores up to 0.788 ± 0.168 (threshold model) and 0.752 ± 0.153 (linear model).
  • Analyses including genomic relationship matrices provided very similar estimates, but with a smaller standard error than those obtained from pedigree-based analyses.
  • The heritabilities for CPL prevalence and the number of affected limbs were calculated to be 0.176-0.189 ± 0.061-0.064 and 0.375-0.433 ± 0.164-0.170, respectively.
  • The study also identified moderately to highly positive genetic correlations between CPL score and other traits like cannon bone circumference, height at withers, and skinfold thickness.

Implication

  • This research highlights the significant impact of additive genetic variation on CPL occurrence in Rhenish German draught horses.
  • Given the findings, further research is suggested to implement breeding programs aimed at exploiting the genetic differences among animals to reduce the prevalence and severity of CPL.

Cite This Article

APA
Sievers J, Distl O. (2024). The Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Chronic Progressive Lymphedema and Body Traits in the Rhenish German Draught Horse. Animals (Basel), 14(8), 1214. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14081214

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 8
PII: 1214

Researcher Affiliations

Sievers, Johanna
  • Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), 30559 Hannover, Germany.
Distl, Ottmar
  • Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), 30559 Hannover, Germany.

Grant Funding

  • 17-02.04.01-14/2019 / Ministry for Environment, Agriculture, Conservation and Consumer Protection

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Sievers J, Distl O. Genomic Patterns of Homozygosity and Genetic Diversity in the Rhenish German Draught Horse. Genes (Basel) 2025 Mar 11;16(3).
    doi: 10.3390/genes16030327pubmed: 40149478google scholar: lookup
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