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Azcona F, Karlau A, Trigo P, Molina A, Demyda-Peyrás S. Genomic tools for early selection among Thoroughbreds and Polo Argentino horses for practicing polo. J Equine Vet Sci 2024; 138:105098. [PMID: 38763367 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
The Polo Argentino (PA) horse is a recognized breed, developed originally by mixing crossbred and Thoroughbred (TB) horses to play polo. Early PA selection is difficult due to unreliable performance estimations. This study investigated the usefulness of genomic markers previously linked to morphological and functional traits as a tool for the early selection of PA. To this, we genotyped 520 PA and 30 TB horses using the Equine GGPArray (Illumina, n = 71,778 SNPs). Analyses included a genetic characterization of six genetic markers associated with behavioral (DRD4), muscular development (MSTN), and body size (LCORL, HMGA6, ZFAT, and LASP1) genes. Genetic differences in the DRD4, MSTN, and LCORL SNP were found between the two breeds, in the last two FST index between breeds was 0.13 and 0.6, respectively (p < 0.01). In DRD4, G allele was the more prevalent in PA (0.56 vs 0.45 in TB, p < 0.05), but no differences were observed between the genotypes associated with phenotypes. In MSTN, heterozygous genotypes were the most common in PA (48 %), with a significant decrease in AA (Hardy-Weinberg p < 0.05), suggesting a negative selection against it in polo horses. In body size, HMGA2 was monomorphic in all horses, while ZFAT and LASP1 SNP showed higher variability. Interestingly, 99 % of PA showed a TT genotype in LCORL (only 66 % in TB), demonstrating selection for smaller horses. Our results suggest that empirical selection in PA has generated an incipient genomic differentiation in discrete traits which could be used as a marker-assisted selection tool for early selection of polo horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Azcona
- Cátedra de Medicina Equina, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, calle 60 y 118 s/n, 1900-La Plata, Argentina; CONICET, CCT La Plata, 1900-La Plata, Argentina; Cátedra de Genética de Poblaciones y Mejoramiento Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, calle 60 y 118 s/n, 1900-La Plata, Argentina.
| | - A Karlau
- CONICET, CCT La Plata, 1900-La Plata, Argentina; Cátedra de Genética de Poblaciones y Mejoramiento Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, calle 60 y 118 s/n, 1900-La Plata, Argentina
| | - P Trigo
- CONICET, CCT La Plata, 1900-La Plata, Argentina; Cátedra de Producción Equina, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, calle 60 y 118 s/n, 1900-La Plata, Argentina
| | - A Molina
- Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Córdoba, CN IV KM 396 Edificio Gregor Mendel, 14007-Córdoba, España
| | - S Demyda-Peyrás
- Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Córdoba, CN IV KM 396 Edificio Gregor Mendel, 14007-Córdoba, España
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Brown C, Stefaniuk-Szmukier M, Decloedt A, Beijerink N, Hamilton NA, Velie BD. Congenital heart defects in Arabian horses and the prospects of genetic testing: A review. Equine Vet J 2024. [PMID: 38272847 DOI: 10.1111/evj.14062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) can have profound and potentially life-threatening consequences on horses' health and performance capability. While CHDs are rare in the general horse population, the Arabian breed is disproportionately overrepresented and thus is widely suspected to be genetically predisposed. This review discusses the most common CHDs in Arabian horses, including ventricular septal defect (VSD), tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), patent duct arteriosus (PDA), tricuspid valve atresia (TVA) and atrial septal defect (ASD). This review also explores how future research into the genetic factors that likely underpin many CHDs can revolutionise the way these disorders are managed in Arabian horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Brown
- Equine Genetics and Genomics Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Monika Stefaniuk-Szmukier
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Poland
| | - Annelies Decloedt
- Equine Cardioteam Ghent, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Niek Beijerink
- Veterinaire Specialisten Vught, Vught, The Netherlands
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Natasha A Hamilton
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Brandon D Velie
- Equine Genetics and Genomics Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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De Coster T, Zhao Y, Tšuiko O, Demyda-Peyrás S, Van Soom A, Vermeesch JR, Smits K. Genome-wide equine preimplantation genetic testing enabled by simultaneous haplotyping and copy number detection. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2003. [PMID: 38263320 PMCID: PMC10805710 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48103-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In different species, embryonic aneuploidies and genome-wide errors are a major cause of developmental failure. The increasing number of equine embryos being produced worldwide provides the opportunity to characterize and rank or select embryos based on their genetic profile prior to transfer. Here, we explored the possibility of generic, genome-wide preimplantation genetic testing concurrently for aneuploidies (PGT-A) and monogenic (PGT-M) traits and diseases in the horse, meanwhile assessing the incidence and spectrum of chromosomal and genome-wide errors in in vitro-produced equine embryos. To this end, over 70,000 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) positions were genotyped in 14 trophectoderm biopsies and corresponding biopsied blastocysts, and in 26 individual blastomeres from six arrested cleavage-stage embryos. Subsequently, concurrent genome-wide copy number detection and haplotyping by haplarithmisis was performed and the presence of aneuploidies and genome-wide errors and the inherited parental haplotypes for four common disease-associated genes with high carrier frequency in different horse breeds (GBE1, PLOD1, B3GALNT2, MUTYH), and for one color coat-associated gene (STX17) were compared in biopsy-blastocyst combinations. The euploid (n = 12) or fully aneuploid (n = 2) state and the inherited parental haplotypes for 42/45 loci of interest of the biopsied blastocysts were predicted by the biopsy samples in all successfully analyzed biopsy-blastocyst combinations (n = 9). Two biopsies showed a loss of maternal chromosome 28 and 31, respectively, which were confirmed in the corresponding blastocysts. In one of those biopsies, additional complex aneuploidies not present in the blastocyst were found. Five out of six arrested embryos contained chromosomal and/or genome-wide errors in most of their blastomeres, demonstrating their contribution to equine embryonic arrest in vitro. The application of the described PGT strategy would allow to select equine embryos devoid of genetic errors and pathogenetic variants, and with the variants of interest, which will improve foaling rate and horse quality. We believe this approach will be a gamechanger in horse breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- T De Coster
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Y Zhao
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - O Tšuiko
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - S Demyda-Peyrás
- Department of Genetics, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Animal Production, Veterinary School, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - A Van Soom
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - J R Vermeesch
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - K Smits
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
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AbouEl Ela NH, El Araby IE, Saleh AA, Abd El-Fattah AH, Hagag NM, Brooks SA, Radwan MA, Kalbfleisch T. Evidence for origin of Lavender Foal Syndrome among Egyptian Arabian horses in Egypt. Equine Vet J 2022; 55:487-493. [PMID: 35665534 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS) is a fatal hereditary condition that is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. This detrimental mutation is more common in Arabian foals of Egyptian origin than foals from other bloodlines. Heterozygous horses are carriers of the LFS trait and appear normal, while recessive homozygous foals died shortly after birth due to serious complications. In Egypt, in 2014, an Egyptian foal died after manifestations of neurological signs and abnormal coat colour as LFS signs. Therefore, it is important to identify LFS carriers in the population of Arabian horses in Egypt and to encourage improvement of the Arabian horse industry in Egypt by constructing a breeding system based on genetic background in order to avoid mating between carriers and reduce financial losses from deaths of affected foals. OBJECTIVES To establish a PCR-based test for detecting the MYO5A gene mutation causing LFS in the registered Arabian horse population in Egypt prior to breeding. STUDY DESIGN Cross sectional survey (n = 170) plus targeted sampling (n = 30). METHODS A total of 200 samples were collected from an Arabian farm in Egypt and some of them were traced for LFS based on the farm records. The LFS genotypes were identified using the PCR-RFLP technique, fragment analysis followed by sequence analysis. RESULTS The overall mutated allele and genotype frequencies (N/L) were 0.08 and 16%, respectively. CONCLUSION The observed frequency of heterozygotes suggests foals affected with LFS will be produced among Arabian horses in Egypt. Therefore, screening of the entire population for this mutation should be undertaken in the breeding program. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Iman E El Araby
- Animal Wealth Development Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt
| | - Ayman A Saleh
- Animal Wealth Development Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt
| | - Amir H Abd El-Fattah
- Animal Wealth Development Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt
| | - Naglaa M Hagag
- Genome Research Unit, Animal Health Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt
| | - Samantha A Brooks
- Department of Animal Sciences, UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, USA
| | - Mohamed A Radwan
- Genome Research Unit, Animal Health Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt
| | - Ted Kalbfleisch
- Department of Veterinary Science, College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, University of Kentucky, USA
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Investigation of Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA), Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS), and Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) Variants in a Cohort of Three MENA Region Horse Breeds. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12121893. [PMID: 34946842 PMCID: PMC8701198 DOI: 10.3390/genes12121893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic disorders in horses are mostly fatal or usually cause significant economic losses for breeders and owners. Here we studied a total of 177 Arabian, Barb and Arab-Barb horses from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) using Sanger Sequencing and PCR-ACRS (polymerase chain reaction—artificially created restriction site) approaches to examine the genetic disorders in the studied horse breeds. We identified the genetic variations related to Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA), Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) occurrence, and the studied population was free of the mutant allele determined Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS). Overall, presented data showed that 15 of the studied horses are carriers of two genetic disorders; the investigated horse population showed that five Arabian horses were heterozygous for the CA-associated SNP (rs397160943). The SCID-deletion TCTCA within PRKDC was detected in ten horses (nine Arabian horses and one Arab-Barb horse). This investigation shows the importance of testing these breeds for genetic disorders to avoid further spread of deleterious variants
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Ekici S, Ozmen O. Affecting Lipid Metabolism Salivary MicroRNAs Expressions in Arabian Racehorses Before and After the Race. J Equine Vet Sci 2020; 93:103218. [PMID: 32972679 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The active roles of microribonucleic acids (miRNAs) in gene regulation have made miRNAs a key point for the scientific world in the study of physiological processes. Although saliva includes the largest number of miRNAs, there is no miRNA study in saliva on horses has been found. Our study is the first study on miRNAs isolation from saliva in horses. In the present study, saliva was studied in Arabian racehorses to better understand the molecular mechanisms of expression levels that are effective in lipid metabolism of miRNAs and their target genes during the race. Identification of lipid metabolism of miRNAs and their target genes is an opportunity to provide information about biomarkers in Arabian racehorses on energy supply for race performance. Arabian racehorses have low glycogen content and high triglyceride storage capability, thanks to the high amount of oxidative type I fiber in their muscle tissue. Therefore, Arabian racehorses can provide higher levels of energy using more fat. The aim of this study is to determine the prerace and postrace expression levels of eight miRNAs in saliva that are known to affect lipid metabolism in Arabian racehorses. The expression level of eca-miR-33a was found to be statistically significant (P < .05). Target genes of eca-miR-33a have been copredicted as ABCA1, CROT, ABHD2, and SATB2, with three validated databases and other analysis tools. In conclusion, these findings revealed that both eca-miR-33a and its target genes could be potential core genes that play important roles in lipid metabolism in Arabian racehorses to provide energy during the race.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seda Ekici
- Veterinary Control Central Research Institute, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Ozge Ozmen
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
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Tallmadge RL, Antczak DF, Felippe MJB. Genetics of Immune Disease in the Horse. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2020; 36:273-288. [PMID: 32654783 DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Host defenses against infection by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites are critical to survival. It has been estimated that upwards of 7% of the coding genes of mammals function in immunity and inflammation. This high level of genomic investment in defense has resulted in an immune system characterized by extraordinary complexity and many levels of redundancy. Because so many genes are involved with immunity, there are many opportunities for mutations to arise that have negative effects. However, redundancy in the mammalian defense system and the adaptive nature of key immune mechanisms buffer the untoward outcomes of many such deleterious mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Tallmadge
- Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, 240 Farrier Road, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Douglas F Antczak
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, 235 Hungerford Hill Road, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| | - Maria Julia Bevilaqua Felippe
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, 930 Campus Road, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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