New Horse DNA Tests Launched

The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory has launched three new horse tests: Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB2) in Tennessee Walking Horses, Equine Familial Isolated Hypoparathyroidism (EFIH), and Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS).

We are excited to offer all three tests, and we are particularly proud to spotlight our test for Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB) in the Tennessee Walking Horse. The research that identified the genetic cause of CSNB in a Tennessee Walking Horse was conducted at the VGL by Izzie Hack, Dr. Rebecca Bellone's undergraduate intern. For her outstanding work, Izzie was awarded the 2020 UC Davis Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research.

Thanks to this research by Izzie and collaborators at North Carolina State University, the VGL can now conduct genetic testing for the variant (called CSNB2) that is suspected to cause CSNB in Tennessee Walking Horses. Genetic testing for CSNB2 can help owners and breeders identify affected Tennessee Walking Horses as well as carriers that may produce affected foals. Research on CSNB in Tennessee Walking Horses is ongoing at the VGL, and we will provide more information and educational content, including scientific publications, as they become available.

All three new horse tests can be found at the links below:

• Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB2) in Tennessee Walking Horses
• Equine Familial Isolated Hypoparathyroidism (EFIH)
• Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)