Genetic Diseases in Horses Reviewed for World Equine Vets

While genetic diseases exist in a number of horse breeds, many researchers have focused expressly on issues occurring in the Quarter Horse breed. Thanks to their efforts, genetic tests for several disorders specific to this breed are now commercially available for breeders and horse owners.

"The size of the Quarter Horse industry, the commitment of the American Quarter Hors

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While genetic diseases exist in a number of horse breeds, many researchers have focused expressly on issues occurring in the Quarter Horse breed. Thanks to their efforts, genetic tests for several disorders specific to this breed are now commercially available for breeders and horse owners.

"The size of the Quarter Horse industry, the commitment of the American Quarter Horse Association, and the development of the equine genome have all contributed to the identification of genetic diseases affecting Quarter Horses," said Stephanie Valberg, DVM, PhD, professor of large animal medicine and director of the University of Minnesota's Equine Center, who presented on the topic at the 11th Congress of the World Equine Veterinary Association in Guarujá, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The most well-known genetic diseases affecting Quarter Horse and related bloodlines include the following:

Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP) This genetic mutation affects 1.5% of the Quarter Horse breed andalmost 60% of halter horses that descend from Impressive, a prominent sire. Signs begin around 2-3 years of age and include intermittent muscle tremors and weakness. Severely affected horses can present with difficulty swallowing and respiratory distress. HYPP is caused by a dominant mutation that results in a single amino acid change in a sodium channel in skeletal muscle. Testing is available at the University of California, Davis

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Written by:

Stacey Oke, MSc, DVM, is a practicing veterinarian and freelance medical writer and editor. She is interested in both large and small animals, as well as complementary and alternative medicine. Since 2005, she’s worked as a research consultant for nutritional supplement companies, assisted physicians and veterinarians in publishing research articles and textbooks, and written for a number of educational magazines and websites.

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