TEST TO PREVENT UNNECESSARY FOAL DEATHS LAUNCHED

A new diagnostic test, which gives breeders the ability to eradicate Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome, was launched on 1 February by UK scientists.

Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome (FIS), a genetic disorder which is known to affect Fell and Dales ponies, causes foals to become anaemic and prone to opportunistic infections. Sadly, any foal born with the syndrome will not survive.

The DNA test, which costs £40, will not only identify foals which have the fatal condition but will highlight adult ponies who are carriers of the genetic trait which causes the syndrome. Affected foals will be prevented by avoiding breeding a carrier mare with a carrier stallion.

Owners and breeders who wish to find out the genetic status of their ponies can arrange for a simple pulled mane or tail hair sample to be taken by a vet and submitted to the Animal Health Trust. The Fell Pony or Dales Pony Societies will supply sample bags for submission on request.

Dr. June Swinburne of the AHT, who led the research team, said: “The DNA test gives owners and breeders the power to overcome this devastating illness. It enables them to make informed decisions about which ponies to breed. We have already had samples submitted by HM The Queen from her own breeding stock of Fell ponies. I’d urge any breeders of Fell or Dales ponies to submit samples in order to arm themselves with the facts they need to prevent the birth of affected foals and thereby avoid this distressing condition.”

For more information on testing, owners should contact the Fell or Dales Pony Societies.
Alternatively visit the AHT website http://www.aht.org.uk/genetics_fis.html or email FIStesting@aht.org.uk

Ivermectin for foal deworming warning

Ivermectin should not be the drug of choice for controlling Parascaris equorum (large roundworm) in foals a recent study warns.

Dr Eva Osterman-Lind and Dr Dan Cristensson of the National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden, investigated the occurrence of Parascaris equorum infection on nine stud farms in Sweden and assessed the efficacy of three commonly used dewormers.

They found that ivermectin had very little, or no, effect on the output of ascarid eggs.

“The most striking result from this study was that in five studs out of six, ivermectin failed to suppress the faecal output of P. equorum eggs” Osterman-Lind and Cristensson report in the journal Acta Vet Scandinavica. “Ivermectin resistance is now a widespread problem in Swedish stud farms.”

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How common are wobblers?

Cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM) is an important disease of Thoroughbred horses in which compression of the spinal cord in the neck leads to incoordinated gait. Affected horses are often described as “wobblers”.

But how common is the condition? Researchers at the University of Glasgow studied records from four breeding establishments - three European Thoroughbred stud farms (936 foals) and one farm in USA (353 foals) - over a 7 year period.

During that time there were 13 cases of Type 1 CVSM, (dynamic stenosis); 5 horses with Type 2 CVSM (static stenosis) and 5 horses in which the Type could not be determined. Overall, 1.3% of the animals were found to be affected.

The average age at which signs of the condition became apparent differed. Horses affected with dynamic stenosis were noticed at a younger age than were those with static stenosis. Type 1 (dynamic stenosis) was diagnosed typically in yearlings (Mean 433days old - about 1y 2 months.) Horses affected with the stenotic compression were diagnosed later - (mean 1188d -about 3years 3 months)

The researchers also found that male horses were significantly more likely to be affected (17 male to 6 female), which agreed with previous studies.

“CVSM is an important disease of Thoroughbred horses and leads to wastage in the thoroughbred industry through the inability to race and the loss of affected horses” the report's authors conclude.

They suggest that “further investigations of the prevalence of CVSM in populations of thoroughbreds and other breeds and determination of risk factors for the disease are warranted.”

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Genetic Test for ‘Speed Gene’ in Thoroughbred Horses

Researchers have identified a gene that can predict the type of work that is most appropriate for an individual Thoroughbred racehorse.

The work, led by Dr Emmeline Hill at University College Dublin, was published in the Public Library of Science Journal, PLoS ONE.

The MSTN gene is responsible for muscle mass development. At a specific point in the gene, the code can contain either the letter C or the letter T. As each individual has two copies of the gene—one inherited from the dam, one from the sire—there are three possible combinations of the letters: C:C, C:T or T:T.

The researchers found that C:C horses were suited to fast, short-distance races; C:T horses competed favorably in middle-distance races; and T:T horses had greater stamina.

The findings were independently validated in a re-sampled group of 62 unrelated elite (Group and Listed race winners) Thoroughbreds and in another group of 37 elite racehorses.

Following the success of the research program, Dr Hill and Mr Jim Bolger, the renowned Irish racehorse trainer and breeder, co-founded a company, Equinome, in 2009 to commercialize the test.

Dr Hill says “Using the Equinome Speed Gene test, a world first in equine genetics, it will now be possible to definitively know a horse’s genetic type within weeks of a sample being taken, thus reducing much of the uncertainty that has been typically involved in selection, training and breeding decisions.”

“Racehorse owners and trainers around the world will be able to identify if a horse is ideally suited to racing over short, middle or middle-to-long distances. With this information, they can then optimize their purchasing and training decisions and better target suitable races for their horses. Breeders, stallion managers and bloodstock agents will also be able to use the test to make more precise selection and breeding decisions to maximize the genetic potential and commercial value of their horses.”

Dr Hill will formally launch Equinome and the Equinome Speed Gene test at 2pm on January 29th at the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association Expo 2010 in a seminar entitled Cracking the code: The Speed Gene revealed.


Read more at EquineScienceUpdate.co.uk

For more information about Equinome

Oxytocin promotes placental expulsion

Retention of the fetal membranes is a common post-foaling complication. It is of particular concern in heavy draft breeds, which seem especially likely to develop laminitis if expulsion of the membranes is delayed.

A Japanese study, led by Dr Mitsuo Ishii, found that hourly injections of oxytocin after foaling was an effective way of inducing placental expulsion.

"I recommend that for heavy draft mares, 50iu of oxytocin should be administered from one
hour after foaling and continued at one hour intervals until expulsion of the placenta" Dr Ishii says. " We usually don't remove the placenta manually until 8 hours after foaling."

See more details at equinescienceupdate.co.uk

Sarcoid treatment breakthrough

The battle against sarcoids is forging ahead. Researchers in Scotland have succeeded in killing equine sarcoid cells using a technique known as gene silencing. They are now hoping to obtain funding for clinical trials using the new technique, which could result in a more effective, non-toxic treatment for sarcoids.

Sarcoids are the most common type of tumour found in horses. They are caused by infection with the Bovine Papillomavirus (BPV). The response to treatment is variable, and if treatment fails the sarcoids will often come back with a vengeance.

Recent research, funded by The Horse Trust, offers a potential ray of hope for owners of horses affected by sarcoids. The work was published in the journal Virus Research.

The research, led by Professor Lubna Nasir of the University of Glasgow, found that by inhibiting the activity of a particular viral protein within sarcoid cells, the amount of viral DNA in the cells reduced. This led to a reduction in the growth of the sarcoid cells and caused the cell to die by “Programmed cell-death” (PCD). The researchers believe that PCD occurs because the sarcoid cells become reliant on the virus.

"This could potentially be a major breakthrough in the treatment of sarcoids," said Professor Lubna Nasir. "We are now seeking funding to use this technique in clinical trials on horses that have sarcoids."

"One of the challenges with gene silencing is administering it within clinical setting - as you need to get molecules into every cell. As sarcoids are on the surface of a horse, we think administration should be relatively easy - potentially by injecting or applying a cream to the sarcoid," said Professor Nasir. "If we are able to successfully develop this technique it would be a non-toxic and easy to administer treatment for horses affected by this distressing condition."

See www.equinescienceupdate.co.uk for more details.

Treating piroplasmosis

Research brings hope for horses with piroplasmosis. A drug used to treat protozoal infections in cattle has been shown to be effective against one form of the disease in horses when used at relatively high doses.

Piroplasmosis in horses is known to be caused by two blood-borne parasites, Babesia (Theileria) equi and Babesia caballi. The organisms infect the red blood cells and cause fever, anemia and jaundice.

Infected horses may remain carriers of the infection after recovering from the initial signs of disease. Such horses can transmit the disease even though the organisms can no longer be found in blood smears.

Now researchers at the Agricultural Research Service Animal Disease Research Unit in Pullman, Washington, led by Dr Don Knowles, have found that relatively high doses of imidocarb dipropionate are effective for treating horses infected with Babesia caballi.

Read the full story at equinescienceupdate.co.uk

Test for Fell Pony syndrome

Scientists have developed a test for the gene responsible for Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome (FIS).

FIS is more often known as Fell Pony Syndrome after the breed most commonly affected. However, the disease is not confined to the Fell Pony, and has been reported in the Dales Pony as well.

Affected foals become ill when they are a few weeks old. Signs include loss of condition, diarrhea, coughing and weight loss. As the condition progresses, they develop anemia, immune dysfunction, and wasting.

FIS is always fatal. Affected foals die or are euthanized, usually before reaching three months of age.

Researchers at New market’s Animal Health Trust (AHT) and Liverpool University have announced that a DNA-based test that should be available in February 2010.

Read the full story at equinescienceupdate.co.uk

Does work cause stereotypies?

Does the type of work that horses do make them more or less likely to adopt stereotypic behaviour? Recent studies in France suggest it could do.

Stereotypies are abnormal repetitive behaviours with no apparent function. They are sometimes referred to as stable vices. Examples include wind sucking, crib biting and head tossing.

Researchers at the Université de Rennes 1, led by Dr Martine Hausberger, observed horses’ behaviour and related it to the type of work they performed.

Seventy-six French Saddlebred horses were divided into six groups according to their work: eventing; show jumping; advanced riding school; dressage; high school and voltige (a mixture of acrobatics and gymnastics on horseback.) All horses worked for only one hour a day and spent the remaining 23 hours in their stable.

The proportion of horses in each work group showing stereotypies was similar (between 81-100%). However, different types of work appeared to be associated with different stereotypies.

Dressage and high school horses were most likely to show stereotypic behaviours. Some of them showed more than one abnormal behaviour pattern. They were also more likely to display the more serious abnormalities such as cribbing, wind sucking and head tossing and nodding.

For more details see equinescienceupdate.co.uk/wsbd.htm

Scientists to study effect of exercise on laminitis.

The Laminitis Trust has awarded a grant of £134,425 to the Royal Veterinary College and the Laminitis Consortium to investigate the effects of exercise on horses and ponies that are predisposed to pasture-associated laminitis.

Lead investigator, Dr Menzies-Gow, explains: “This project will in part investigate whether exercise can reduce the level of chronic inflammation in laminitis-prone animals, which may then prove to be a simple and practical way of reducing the risk of future bouts of disease in susceptible animals.”

The grant commences in January 2010 and will run over two years. The Laminitis Consortium will provide regular updates on progress.

See equinescienceupdate.co.uk for more details...

3D study of neck anatomy

Wobbler syndrome (Cervical Vertebral Malformation, CVM) is a common condition of Thoroughbred horses. Affected horses have a characteristic “wobbly” gait, caused by compression of the spinal cord.

In some cases, the signs of Wobbler Syndrome (Cervical Vertebral Malformation, CVM) have been linked to arthritic changes in the cervical articular process joints. These are the joints between adjacent vertebrae in the neck. They can become inflamed, which can result in soft tissue swelling, thickening of the joint capsule and new bone formation. The joints lie close to the spinal cord, so any increase in their size is a cause for concern.

Some “wobblers” have marked bony and soft tissue swelling around the joints. But does an increase in fluid in these joints result in spinal cord compression, even if no other bony of soft tissue changes are present? If so, it might be possible to prevent the disease progressing by detecting and treating the inflammation at an early stage.

Holly Claridge, working at the Royal Veterinary College, conducted a study using Computed Tomography to examine the structure of the horse’s neck. She found that the joints these joints do indeed extend towards, but do not actually touch, the spinal cord.

So, unless soft tissue or bony changes are also present, it seems unlikely that inflammation or swelling of these joints causes spinal cord compression.

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Inner secrets of Rhodococcus equi

Work to understand the genetic structure of Rhodococcus equi may lead to new measures to control disease in foals. Understanding the complex mechanisms used by the bacteria to cause disease may reveal the microbe’s “Achilles heel” that could be targeted by vaccines and drugs.

“Among the virulence factors we have identified, we have found one in particular that we think might be a good target for a vaccine” says Professor Jose Vazquez-Boland of Edinburgh University. Pathogenic strains of the bacteria have long processes or “pili”, with which they attach to the host cells.

“We identified the genes responsible and produced antibodies against them.” These antibodies prevent the bacteria attaching to the cells and so prevent infection getting established. So this would be a good candidate for a vaccine.

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How effective is your deworming program?

The importance of knowing that your worm control program is effective was emphasized by Professor Jacqui Matthews when she spoke at the Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding Seminar at Cheltenham.

The cyathostomins (small strongyles) are the most important group of intestinal parasites of the horse - both numerically, and through their ability to cause disease. They are becoming increasingly difficult to control as they develop resistance to the drugs used against them.

“Not enough of us are thinking about the level of burden individual horses have in terms of giving them worm treatments. When we treat horses with viral disease we don’t usually treat the whole group. And we don’t do that with antibiotics.” So why not just deworm the horses that need it?

In the spring and summer, fecal egg counts can be used to identify which horses to treat. But encysted worms in the gut wall in winter cannot be detected with fecal egg counts. So we also need to detect horses with high larval counts.

Prof Matthews’ team have been working to develop a blood test to measure the antibody response to proteins released by these encysted stages within the gut wall.

Detecting resistance is also vital. The research team at Edinburgh has just received funding to update and refine the fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) that is used to detect resistance to anthelmintics. Hopefully this will lead to better thresholds for resistance levels to individual drugs.

They are looking for studs with large numbers of young horses to help in the research. The project will involve a questionnaire, treatment with ivermectin and a FECRT, which will be provided free of charge.

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Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding Seminar

A panel of top equine researchers and veterinarians covered a range of subjects at the Thoroughbred Racing and Breeders Seminar. The event, now in its ninth year, was supported by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, Intervet Schering Plough Animal Health and cheltenham Racecourse.

The latest research on a variety of topics was presented.

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Immunodeficiency/anaemia in a Dales pony.

Fell ponies are not the only breed to be affected with an immunodeficiency / anaemia syndrome.
Now a similar condition has been reported in a Dales pony

The report’s authors, based at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket and the Liverpool Vet School, describe a female Dales pony foal with marked anaemia, diarrhoea and pneumonia, that failed to respond to treatment. The foal was euthanased at nearly 6 weeks of age. Post mortem signs were typical of Fell pony syndrome.

The scientists, who are already studying Fell pony syndrome, are now widening their scope to pay close attention to the Dales pony as well.

They suggest that, although there are other causes of anaemia in foals, the anaemia/immunodeficiency syndrome should be considered in any young foal with marked anaemia (PCV < 20%) and relevant clinical signs.

They urge owners, breeders and veterinarians dealing with Dales ponies to be aware of the disease, and ask that any suspect cases be referred to the research team at the Animal Health Trust or the Liverpool University Veterinary School.

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Benefits of Bitless Bridle

Traditionally, bitted bridles have provided the main means of controlling ridden horses. The metal bit applies focused pressure on areas of sensitive tissue within the horse's mouth.

According to Dr Robert Cook, Surgery Professor Emeritus at Tuft's University in Massachusetts, the bit is to blame for numerous problems in the horse, including headshaking and upper respiratory obstruction.

For the past ten years Dr Cook has been researching the adverse effects of the bit and the advantages of communicating without using a bit. He developed a new type of bitless bridle that differs from hackamores and other traditional bitless bridles in being painless and incorporating a crossunder principle.

Is the bitless bridle as effective as Dr Cook would have us believe? Two small-scale studies have looked at how horses behave and perform in bitless or bitted bridles.

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British racing whips microchipped

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced that a modified whip will be made available to British jockeys over the next few months. Initially, the new whips will be supplied to flat jockeys, followed by jump jockeys.

The new whip, which is a modification of the existing cushioned whip, will include a microchip of the same type used to identify racehorses. This will allow the Authority to monitor how the whips wear. Of particular interest is how well the cushioning properties last.

The cushioned whip was introduced in 2004 for Jump racing and in 2007 for Flat racing. Its success has been shown by the widespread international adoption of the principle of cushioned whips in horseracing and other equine sports.

Tim Morris, Director of Equine Science and Welfare for the Authority, said:

“At present we do not know if the cushioning effect is sustained over time. Identification of individual whips via the microchip will allow objective assessment of whip age, allow estimates of the number in races where it has been used and ultimately avoid any whip wear that might affect horse welfare.

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Days numbered for hot iron branding?

A recent study found that hot iron branding inflicts more pain than does inserting a microchip and concluded that the practice should be abandoned wherever possible.

The study, carried out at the University of Copenhagen, in Denmark, compared the behavioral and physiological responses of seven horses that were subjected to both hot iron branding and microchip insertion.

The researchers found that the horses showed significantly more signs of aversive behavior after hot iron branding than they did after microchip injection.

Also, hot iron branding caused significantly greater skin sensitivity around the treatment site compared with microchip injection. For 48 hours, there was significantly more heat and swelling of the skin where the hot iron branding was carried out than there was at the site of the microchip injection.

Heart rate increased at the time of branding or injection, but returned to normal quickly after the microchip injection. It remained high for five minutes after hot iron branding.

The researchers conclude that hot iron branding caused more pain than microchip injection. They recommend that hot iron branding should be abandoned if possible.

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Saving the Suffolk Punch.

Researchers at the Animal Health Trust, based in Suffolk, England, are working with the Suffolk Horse Society to develop a breeding program to help safeguard the future of their local native breed.

The Suffolk Punch, an ancient draught breed is on the Rare Breed Survival Trust's "critical" list. At the last count there were fewer than 300 breeding animals left in the UK.

With such limited numbers, inbreeding risks limiting genetic diversity. Eventually this could lead to health problems.

Dr Sarah Blott, leading the research in the Department of Genetics, said " Our project aims to help breeders make the best use of the genetic knowledge in their quest to conserve the breed."

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Body condition scores fail to detect weight loss

Existing body condition scoring systems may not be sufficiently accurate for monitoring weight loss in dieting ponies according to researchers at the Liverpool Vet School.

This was one of the findings to come out of a study into the use of a restricted diet for producing weight loss.

For twelve weeks, overweight ponies were fed a chaff-based complete diet, with their intake limited to 1% of body weight.

The ponies achieved the desired weight loss. Their girth measurements decreased over time, as did measurements of subcutaneous fat. However, body condition scores remained unchanged.

As a result of the study the research group is developing a new condition scoring system designed specifically for ponies.

Read the full article in Equine Science Update