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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; 56:884-891. [PMID: 38272847 DOI: 10.1111/evj.14062] [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: 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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2
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Sigurðardóttir H, Ablondi M, Kristjansson T, Lindgren G, Eriksson S. Genetic diversity and signatures of selection in Icelandic horses and Exmoor ponies. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:772. [PMID: 39118059 PMCID: PMC11308356 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10682-8] [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: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Icelandic horse and Exmoor pony are ancient, native breeds, adapted to harsh environmental conditions and they have both undergone severe historic bottlenecks. However, in modern days, the selection pressures on these breeds differ substantially. The aim of this study was to assess genetic diversity in both breeds through expected (HE) and observed heterozygosity (HO) and effective population size (Ne). Furthermore, we aimed to identify runs of homozygosity (ROH) to estimate and compare genomic inbreeding and signatures of selection in the breeds. RESULTS HO was estimated at 0.34 and 0.33 in the Icelandic horse and Exmoor pony, respectively, aligning closely with HE of 0.34 for both breeds. Based on genomic data, the Ne for the last generation was calculated to be 125 individuals for Icelandic horses and 42 for Exmoor ponies. Genomic inbreeding coefficient (FROH) ranged from 0.08 to 0.20 for the Icelandic horse and 0.12 to 0.27 for the Exmoor pony, with the majority of inbreeding attributed to short ROHs in both breeds. Several ROH islands associated with performance were identified in the Icelandic horse, featuring target genes such as DMRT3, DOCK8, EDNRB, SLAIN1, and NEURL1. Shared ROH islands between both breeds were linked to metabolic processes (FOXO1), body size, and the immune system (CYRIB), while private ROH islands in Exmoor ponies were associated with coat colours (ASIP, TBX3, OCA2), immune system (LYG1, LYG2), and fertility (TEX14, SPO11, ADAM20). CONCLUSIONS Evaluations of genetic diversity and inbreeding reveal insights into the evolutionary trajectories of both breeds, highlighting the consequences of population bottlenecks. While the genetic diversity in the Icelandic horse is acceptable, a critically low genetic diversity was estimated for the Exmoor pony, which requires further validation. Identified signatures of selection highlight the differences in the use of the two breeds as well as their adaptive trait similarities. The results provide insight into genomic regions under selection pressure in a gaited performance horse breed and various adaptive traits in small-sized native horse breeds. This understanding contributes to preserving genetic diversity and population health in these equine populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiðrún Sigurðardóttir
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7023, Uppsala, 75007, Sweden.
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural University of Iceland, Hvanneyri, Borgarbyggð, 311, Iceland.
| | - Michela Ablondi
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, 43126, Italy
| | - Thorvaldur Kristjansson
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural University of Iceland, Hvanneyri, Borgarbyggð, 311, Iceland
| | - Gabriella Lindgren
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7023, Uppsala, 75007, Sweden
- Center for Animal Breeding and Genetics, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Susanne Eriksson
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7023, Uppsala, 75007, Sweden
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Barbosa JD, Sodré MHS, Barbosa CC, da Costa PSC, Oliveira CMC, Ferreira TTA, da Silveira JAS, Lamego EC, Paz MC, Caldeira RD, Magalhães Matos PC, Serruya A, Salvarani FM, Silveira NDSES. Allergic Dermatitis in Pêga Breed Donkeys ( Equus asinus) Caused by Culicoides Bites in the Amazon Biome, Pará, Brazil. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1330. [PMID: 38731338 PMCID: PMC11083578 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091330] [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: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
An allergy to bites from Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) occurs because of a hypersensitivity reaction caused by the inoculation of insect salivary antigens during the bite, resulting in immune-mediated dermatitis. To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies have focused on allergic dermatitis in donkeys in Brazil. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the epidemiological, clinicopathological, and therapeutic aspects of allergic dermatitis in donkeys and to identify the insects involved in its epidemiology. This study reported the occurrence of dermatitis in 17 animals. The clinical signs were restlessness and severe itching. Skin lesions were found on the head, depigmented areas of the muzzle and cheeks, flanks, pelvic and thoracic limbs, and the scrotal sac. The lesions were characterized by areas of alopecia with crusts accompanied by serosanguineous exudates. Histologically, the lesions were characterized as moderate superficial dermatitis with irregular epidermal acanthosis and pronounced diffuse orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis. In total, 378 Culicoides specimens were collected, with Culicoides ocumarensis Ortiz being the most abundant species. The combined application of copaiba oil and a multivitamin emulsion exhibited potential for topical treatment of allergic dermatitis caused by insect bites in donkeys. Our study revealed an association between allergic dermatitis in donkeys and Culicoides.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Diomedes Barbosa
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68740-970, PA, Brazil; (J.D.B.); (M.H.S.S.); (C.C.B.); (C.M.C.O.); (T.T.A.F.); (J.A.S.d.S.); (A.S.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Maria Hilma Soares Sodré
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68740-970, PA, Brazil; (J.D.B.); (M.H.S.S.); (C.C.B.); (C.M.C.O.); (T.T.A.F.); (J.A.S.d.S.); (A.S.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Camila Cordeiro Barbosa
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68740-970, PA, Brazil; (J.D.B.); (M.H.S.S.); (C.C.B.); (C.M.C.O.); (T.T.A.F.); (J.A.S.d.S.); (A.S.); (F.M.S.)
| | | | - Carlos Magno Chaves Oliveira
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68740-970, PA, Brazil; (J.D.B.); (M.H.S.S.); (C.C.B.); (C.M.C.O.); (T.T.A.F.); (J.A.S.d.S.); (A.S.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Tatiane Teles Albernaz Ferreira
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68740-970, PA, Brazil; (J.D.B.); (M.H.S.S.); (C.C.B.); (C.M.C.O.); (T.T.A.F.); (J.A.S.d.S.); (A.S.); (F.M.S.)
| | - José Alcides Sarmento da Silveira
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68740-970, PA, Brazil; (J.D.B.); (M.H.S.S.); (C.C.B.); (C.M.C.O.); (T.T.A.F.); (J.A.S.d.S.); (A.S.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Eryca Ceolin Lamego
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre 90040-060, PR, Brazil; (E.C.L.); (M.C.P.)
| | - Milena Carolina Paz
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre 90040-060, PR, Brazil; (E.C.L.); (M.C.P.)
| | - Rossela Damasceno Caldeira
- Postgraduate Program in Biology of Infectious Agents and Parasites, PPGBAIP/UFPA, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil;
| | | | - Analiel Serruya
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68740-970, PA, Brazil; (J.D.B.); (M.H.S.S.); (C.C.B.); (C.M.C.O.); (T.T.A.F.); (J.A.S.d.S.); (A.S.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Felipe Masiero Salvarani
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68740-970, PA, Brazil; (J.D.B.); (M.H.S.S.); (C.C.B.); (C.M.C.O.); (T.T.A.F.); (J.A.S.d.S.); (A.S.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Natália da Silva e Silva Silveira
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal 68740-970, PA, Brazil; (J.D.B.); (M.H.S.S.); (C.C.B.); (C.M.C.O.); (T.T.A.F.); (J.A.S.d.S.); (A.S.); (F.M.S.)
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Cox A, Stewart AJ. Insect Bite Hypersensitivity in Horses: Causes, Diagnosis, Scoring and New Therapies. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2514. [PMID: 37570323 PMCID: PMC10416928 DOI: 10.3390/ani13152514] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Insect Bite Hypersensitivity (IBH, Queensland itch, sweet itch, equine summer eczema) is the most common pruritic disease of horses. It is most often caused by sensitivity to the saliva of Culicoides spp. of biting midges; however, it can also be caused by hypersensitivity to other insect species. The prevalence of IBH in horses is reported to be as high as 60% in some parts of the world. Due to the severe pruritus and effects of secondary self-trauma, IBH has animal welfare concerns, and there is currently no cure. Management of this condition is life-long, time consuming and costly. New grading systems to document disease severity are being validated, which will allow the comparison of clinical trial results of new and existing therapies. Management involves the minimisation of insect bites by use of stabling, fans, rugs and repellents. Symptomatic therapy involves the administration of systemic or topical corticosteroids, systemic antihistamines, and creams and sprays to promote skin healing and decrease inflammation. New immune-mediated therapeutics including vaccines, in addition to desensitisation procedures, show promise at controlling hypersensitivity reactions. This article will review aetiologic agents, pathophysiology, scoring systems and current and new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Allison J. Stewart
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland Gatton, 5391 Warrego Highway, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia;
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Marsella R, White S, Fadok VA, Wilson D, Mueller R, Outerbridge C, Rosenkrantz W. Equine allergic skin diseases: Clinical consensus guidelines of the World Association for Veterinary Dermatology. Vet Dermatol 2023; 34:175-208. [PMID: 37154488 DOI: 10.1111/vde.13168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allergic skin diseases are common in horses worldwide. The most common causes are insect bites and environmental allergens. OBJECTIVES To review the current literature and provide consensus on pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. MATERIALS AND METHODS The authors reviewed the literature up to November 2022. Results were presented at North America Veterinary Dermatology Forum (2021) and European Veterinary Dermatology Congress (2021). The report was available to member organisations of the World Association for Veterinary Dermatology for feedback. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is the best characterised allergic skin disease. An immunoglobulin (Ig)E response against Culicoides salivary antigens is widely documented. Genetics and environmental factors play important roles. Tests with high sensitivity and specificity are lacking, and diagnosis of IBH is based on clinical signs, seasonality and response to insect control. Eosinophils, interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-31 are explored as therapeutic targets. Presently, the most effective treatment is insect avoidance. Existing evidence does not support allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) using commercially available extracts of Culicoides. Hypersensitivity to environmental allergens (atopic dermatitis) is the next most common allergy. A role for IgE is supported by serological investigation, skin test studies and positive response to ASIT. Prospective, controlled, randomised studies are limited, and treatment relies largely on glucocorticoids, antihistamines and ASIT based on retrospective studies. Foods are known triggers for urticaria, yet their role in pruritic dermatitis is unknown. Recurrent urticaria is common in horses, yet our understanding is limited and focussed on IgE and T-helper 2 cell response. Prospective, controlled studies on treatments for urticaria are lacking. Glucocorticoids and antihistamines are primary reported treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Marsella
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - S White
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - V A Fadok
- Zoetis, US PET CARE, Bellaire, Texas, USA
| | - D Wilson
- School of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - R Mueller
- Medizinische Keleintierklinik, Zentrum für klinische Tiermedizin, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - C Outerbridge
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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6
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Salek Ardestani S, Zandi MB, Vahedi SM, Janssens S. Population structure and genomic footprints of selection in five major Iranian horse breeds. Anim Genet 2022; 53:627-639. [PMID: 35919961 DOI: 10.1111/age.13243] [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: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The genetic structure and characteristics of Iranian native breeds are yet to be comprehensibly investigated and studied. Therefore, we employed genomic information of 364 Iranian native horses representing the Asil (n = 109), Caspian (n = 40), Dareshuri (n = 44), Kurdish (n = 95), and Turkoman (n = 76) breeds to reveal the genetic structure and characteristics. For these and 19 other horse breeds, principal component analysis, Bayesian model-based, Neighbor-Net, and bootstrap-based TreeMix approaches were applied to investigate and compare their genetic structure. Additionally, three haplotype-based methods including haplotype homozygosity pooled, integrated haplotype score, and number of segregating sites by length were applied to trace genomic footprints of selection of Asil, Caspian, Dareshuri, Kurdish, and Turkoman groups. Then, the Mahalanobis distance based on the negative-log10 rank-based P-values was estimated based on the haplotype homozygosity pooled, integrated haplotype score, and number of segregating sites by length values. Asil, Caspian, Dareshuri, Kurdish, and Turkoman can be categorized into five different genetic clusters. Based on the top 1% of Mahalanobis distance based on the negative-log10 rank-based P-values of SNPs, we identified 24 SNPs formerly reported to be associated with different traits and >100 genes undergoing selection pressures in Asil, Caspian, Dareshuri, Kurdish, and Turkoman. The detected QTL undergoing selection pressures were associated with withers height, equine metabolic syndrome, overall body size, insect bite hypersensitivity, guttural pouch tympany, white markings, Rhodococcus equi infection, jumping test score, alternate gaits, and body weight traits. Our findings will aid to have a better perspective of the genetic characteristics and population structure of Asil, Caspian, Dareshuri, Kurdish, and Turkoman horses as Iranian native horse breeds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Seyed Milad Vahedi
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Steven Janssens
- Department Biosystems, Center Animal Breeding and Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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7
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Salek Ardestani S, Zandi MB, Vahedi SM, Mahboudi H, Mahboudi F, Meskoob A. Detection of common copy number of variation underlying selection pressure in Middle Eastern horse breeds using whole-genome sequence data. J Hered 2022; 113:421-430. [PMID: 35605262 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esac027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Dareshouri, Arabian, and Akhal-Teke are three Middle Eastern horse breeds that have been selected for endurance and adaptation to harsh climates. Deciphering the genetic characteristics of these horses by tracing selection footprints and copy number of variations will be helpful in improving our understanding of equine breeds' development and adaptation. For this purpose, we sequenced the whole-genome of four Dareshouri horses using Illumina Hiseq panels and compared them with publicly available whole-genome sequences of Arabian (n=3) and Akhal-Teke (n=3) horses . Three tests of FLK, hapFLK, and pooled heterozygosity were applied using a sliding window (window size=100kb, step size=50kb) approach to detect putative selection signals. Copy number variation analysis was applied to investigate copy number of variants (CNVs), and the results were used to suggest selection signatures involving CNVs. Whole-genome sequencing demonstrated 8,837,950 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in autosomal chromosomes. We suggested 58 genes and three quantitative trait loci (QTLs), including some related to horse gait, insect bite hypersensitivity, and withers height, based on selective signals detected by adjusted p-value of Mahalanobis distance based on the rank-based P-values (Md-rank-P) method. We proposed 12 genomic regions under selection pressure involving CNVs which were previously reported to be associated with metabolism energy (SLC5A8), champagne dilution in horses (SLC36A1), and synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAT2). Only 10 Middle Eastern horses were tested in this study; therefore, the conclusions are speculative. Our findings are useful to better understanding the evolution and adaptation of Middle Eastern horse breeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siavash Salek Ardestani
- Department of Animal Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Seyed Milad Vahedi
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, Canada
| | - Hossein Mahboudi
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
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Laseca N, Demyda-Peyrás S, Valera M, Ramón M, Escribano B, Perdomo-González DI, Molina A. A genome-wide association study of mare fertility in the Pura Raza Español horse. Animal 2022; 16:100476. [PMID: 35247706 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the economic importance of fertility for the horse industry, few efforts have been made to achieve a better understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying its control. This is probably due to the difficulty of obtaining reliable phenotypes and the complexity of modelling the environmental and management factors. This work is novel in that we propose to use reproductive efficiency (RE) as an indicator of mare fertility. To achieve this, we performed a genome-wide association study in the Pura Raza Español horse aimed at identifying genomic variants, regions, and candidate genes associated with fertility in mares. The dataset included 819 animals genotyped with the Affymetrix Axiom™ Equine 670 K single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) Genotyping Array and the deregressed breeding values for RE trait, obtained using a ssBLUP model, employed as pseudo-phenotypic data. Our results showed 28 SNPs potentially associated with RE, which explained 87.19% of the genetic variance and 6.61% of the phenotypic variance. Those results were further validated in BayesB, showing a correlation between observed and predicted RE of 0.57. In addition, 15 candidate genes (HTRA3, SPIRE1, APOE, ERCC1, FOXA3, NECTIN-2, KLC3, RSPH6A, PDPK1, MEIOB, PAQR4, NM3, PKD1, PRSS21, IFT140) previously related to fertility in mammals were associated with the markers and genomic regions significantly associated with RE. To our knowledge, this is the first genome-wide association study performed on mare fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Laseca
- Departamento de Genética. Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, CN-IV km 396, 14071 Córdoba, España.
| | - S Demyda-Peyrás
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Calle 60 y 118 s/n, La Plata 1900, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET) La Plata, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - M Valera
- Departamento de Agronomía, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica. Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra. Utrera, Km 1, Sevilla, Spain
| | - M Ramón
- Centro Regional de Selección y Reproducción Animal (CERSYRA), Av. del Vino, 10, 13300 Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - B Escribano
- Departamento de Fisiología, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, CN-IV km 396, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - D I Perdomo-González
- Departamento de Agronomía, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica. Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra. Utrera, Km 1, Sevilla, Spain
| | - A Molina
- Departamento de Genética. Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, CN-IV km 396, 14071 Córdoba, España
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9
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Mancin E, Ablondi M, Mantovani R, Pigozzi G, Sabbioni A, Sartori C. Genetic Variability in the Italian Heavy Draught Horse from Pedigree Data and Genomic Information. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1310. [PMID: 32751586 PMCID: PMC7460293 DOI: 10.3390/ani10081310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity in the Italian Heavy Horse Breed from pedigree and genomic data. Pedigree information for 64,917 individuals were used to assess inbreeding level, effective population size (Ne), and effective numbers of founders and ancestors (fa/fe). Genotypic information from SNP markers were available for 267 individuals of both sexes, and it allowed estimating genomic inbreeding in two methods (observed versus expected homozygosity and from ROH) to study the breed genomic structure and possible selection signatures. Pedigree and genomic inbreeding were greatly correlated (0.65 on average). The inbreeding trend increased over time, apart from periods in which the base population enlarged, when Ne increased also. Recent bottlenecks did not occur in the genome, as fa/fe have shown. The observed homozygosity results were on average lower than expected, which was probably due to the use of French Breton stallions to support the breed genetic variability. High homozygous regions suggested that inbreeding increased in different periods. Two subpopulations were distinguished, which was probably due to the different inclusion of French animals by breeders. Few selection signatures were found at the population level, with possible associations to disease resistance. The almost low inbreeding rate suggested that despite the small breed size, conservation actions are not yet required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Mancin
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment—DAFNAE, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy; (E.M.); (C.S.)
| | - Michela Ablondi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Medico-Veterinarie, University of Parma Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Roberto Mantovani
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment—DAFNAE, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy; (E.M.); (C.S.)
| | - Giuseppe Pigozzi
- Italian Heavy Draught Horse Breeders Association (ANACAITPR), 37068 Vigasio (VR), Italy;
| | - Alberto Sabbioni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Medico-Veterinarie, University of Parma Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Cristina Sartori
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment—DAFNAE, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy; (E.M.); (C.S.)
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10
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Lindgren G, Naboulsi R, Frey R, Solé M. Genetics of Skin Disease in Horses. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2020; 36:323-339. [PMID: 32534850 DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2020.03.010] [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: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Equine skin diseases are common, causing increased costs and reduced welfare of affected horses.Genetic testing, if available, can complement early detection, disease diagnosis, and clinical treatment and offers horse breeders the possibility to rule out carrier status. The mechanisms of complex disease can be investigated by using the latest state-of-the-art genomic technologies. Genome-based strategies may also serve as an efficient and cost-effective strategy for the management of the disease severity levels, with particular interest in complex traits such as insect bite hypersensitivity, chronic progressive lymphedema, and melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Lindgren
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Almas Allé 8, Uppsala 75007, Sweden; Livestock Genetics, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven Leuven, KasteelparkArenberg 30, Leuven 3001, Belgium
| | - Rakan Naboulsi
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Almas Allé 8, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
| | - Rebecka Frey
- AniCura Norsholms Djursjukhus, Norsholm 61791, Sweden
| | - Marina Solé
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Almas Allé 8, Uppsala 75007, Sweden.
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Genetic Diversity and Signatures of Selection in a Native Italian Horse Breed Based on SNP Data. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10061005. [PMID: 32521830 PMCID: PMC7341496 DOI: 10.3390/ani10061005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The Bardigiano horse is a native Italian breed bred for living in rural areas, traditionally used in agriculture. The breed counts about 3000 horses, and it is nowadays mainly used for recreational purposes. The relatively small size and the closed status of the breed raise the issue of monitoring genetic diversity. We therefore characterized the breed’s genetic diversity based on molecular data. We showed a critical reduction of genetic variability mainly driven by past bottlenecks. We also highlighted homozygous genomic regions that might be the outcome of directional selection in recent years, in line with the conversion of Bardigiano horses from agricultural to riding purposes. Abstract Horses are nowadays mainly used for sport and leisure activities, and several local breeds, traditionally used in agriculture, have been exposed to a dramatic loss in population size and genetic diversity. The loss of genetic diversity negatively impacts individual fitness and reduces the potential long-term survivability of a breed. Recent advances in molecular biology and bioinformatics have allowed researchers to explore biodiversity one step further. This study aimed to evaluate the loss of genetic variability and identify genomic regions under selection pressure in the Bardigiano breed based on GGP Equine70k SNP data. The effective population size based on Linkage Disequilibrium (Ne) was equal to 39 horses, and it showed a decline over time. The average inbreeding based on runs of homozygosity (ROH) was equal to 0.17 (SD = 0.03). The majority of the ROH were relatively short (91% were ≤2 Mbp long), highlighting the occurrence of older inbreeding, rather than a more recent occurrence. A total of eight ROH islands, shared among more than 70% of the Bardigiano horses, were found. Four of them mapped to known quantitative trait loci related to morphological traits (e.g., body size and coat color) and disease susceptibility. This study provided the first genome-wide scan of genetic diversity and selection signatures in an Italian native horse breed.
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