News

UC Davis VGL Launches Comprehensive Coat Color DNA Panel for APHA Paint Horse Registration

The UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) is excited to announce the release of the APHA White Pattern Registration Eligibility Panel, a new DNA testing panel designed to support registration of Paint Horses with the American Paint Horse Association (APHA).

This specialized panel includes all currently recognized white patterning genes accepted by APHA for registration eligibility, offering breeders, owners, and association members a streamlined and scientifically validated method to confirm coat color genetics. The panel includes:

Mutation Associated with Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) Found to be at Low Frequency but Clinically Significant in Quarter Horse Populations

A new study led by VGL director, Dr. Rebecca Bellone, in collaboration with UC Davis Professor, Dr. Monica Aleman, and University of Minnesota Professor, Dr. Molly McCue, determined that the genetic variant causing malignant hyperthermia (MH) is at a low frequency in Quarter Horses and related breeds, and horses homozygous for the mutation remain undetected.

New Test Available: Congenital Myotonia in Goats

Congenital myotonia (CM) is a heritable neuromuscular disorder that is characterized by a slow relaxation of skeletal muscles following voluntary contraction. Affected animals exhibit sudden muscle stiffness when excited or startled and this stiffness often causes the animal to fall over briefly. 

New Test Available: X-Linked Progressive Retinal Atrophy in Greyhounds

UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine researchers, Dr. Bannasch and Dr. Thomasy, have identified the likely cause of one form of PRA in racing Greyhounds. The researchers have shared these finding with the VGL pre-publication so that we could more rapidly offer genetic testing to Greyhound breeders.

New Test Available: Progressive Retinal Atrophy (Shetland Sheepdog type)

The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory has launched a new test that is specific to the Shetland Sheepdog: Progressive Retinal Atrophy (Shetland Sheepdog type).

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a term used to describe a group of inherited disorders of the retina, characterized by progressive retinal degeneration and consequent blindness. More than 20 mutations in various genes have been associated with PRA in dogs, many of which are breed-specific. 

New Test Available: Equine Juvenile Spinocerebellar Ataxia (EJSCA)

Equine Juvenile Spinocerebellar Ataxia (EJSCA) is an inherited neurologic disease that causes ataxia in American Quarter Horses. The variant causing this disease was identified at UC Davis by Dr. Carrie Finno, Gregory L. Ferraro Endowed Director of the UC Davis Center for Equine Health (CEH), and colleagues, and the scientific paper describing this finding is currently in progress. Dr. Finno found that affected foals developed ataxia, or incoordination, between 1 and 4 weeks of age. In most affected foals, the hind limbs appeared to be more severely affected than the front limbs.