Genetics of upper and lower airway diseases in the horse. (26th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gerber, V.; Tessier, C.; Marti, E.
• Is Part Of: Equine veterinary journal. Volume 47:Number 4(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 390
• Page End: 397
• Publication Date: 2014-05-26
• Subjects: horse -- genomics -- recurrent laryngeal neuropathy -- recurrent airway obstruction -- infectious disease; Horses -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 636.108905
• DOI: 10.1111/evj.12289
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0425-1644

Abstract

Summary: Genetic predispositions for guttural pouch tympany, recurrent laryngeal neuropathy and recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) are well documented. There is also evidence that exercise‐induced pulmonary haemorrhage and infectious diseases of the respiratory tract in horses have a genetic component. The clinical expression of equine respiratory diseases with a genetic basis results from complex interactions between the environment and the genetic make‐up of each individual horse. The genetic effects are likely to be due to variations in several genes, i.e. they are polygenic. It is therefore unlikely that single gene tests will be diagnostically useful in these disorders. Genetic profiling panels, combining several genetic factors with an assessment of environmental risk factors, may have greater value, but much work is still needed to uncover diagnostically useful genetic markers or even causative variants for equine respiratory diseases. Nonetheless, chromosomal regions associated with guttural pouch tympany, recurrent laryngeal neuropathy and RAO have been identified. The association of RAO with other hypersensitivities and with resistance to intestinal parasites requires further study. This review aims to provide an overview of the available data and current thoughts on the genetics of equine airway diseases.