News

The equine Dominant White test offered by the VGL has been updated to include a fifth allele: W13. This KIT mutation consists of a single base substitution and was initially identified in a Quarter Horse X Paso Peruano cross-bred family that had two white horses.

The VGL’s cat ancestry test was developed to determine which geographic region a random bred cat has originated from: Western Europe, Egypt, East Mediterranean, Iran/Iraq, Arabian Sea, India, South Asia and East Asia. It was not designed to answer the question, what is the breed composition of my cat? As such, the results that we are scientifically able to provide with this DNA test are not able to answer the question some of our clients have. Therefore, we have decided to discontinue the offering of this test effective December 16, 2022.

Understanding the results of genetic testing and how to best utilize them is an important component for advancing the health of animals. The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) recently formed a task force consisting of veterinarians, geneticists, AQHA staff and AQHA members, to assist in the development of an online resource to aid in the understanding and utilization of the results of genetic testing performed by the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL). 

The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) has just announced that the myosin-heavy chain myopathy (MYHM) test has been added to the American Quarter Horse Genetic Health Panel offered through the Association. The decision to add MYHM was made earlier this year at the 2022 AQHA Convention in Las Vegas, NV, following a rule-change proposal submitted by an AQHA member. Starting December 1st, 2022, MYHM will be automatically included in the health panel test ordered through AQHA.

Legend, a 6-year-old American Quarter Horse, was showing signs of lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, dark urine, edema and muscle loss in the hindquarters. Soon after noticing a change in her horse, the concerned owner, Karissa Waber, decided to take him to her veterinarian for care. Legend was hospitalized for 8 days, but despite this care, his condition continued to worsen. In only a few days he developed colitis and signs of kidney failure. Nonetheless, Karissa’s veterinarian, Dr. Mem Dailey, was not ready to give up on Legend and started him on steroid treatments.

The VGL is adding two new tests for Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers today: Cardiac Laminopathy (CLAM) and Cerebellar Degeneration-Myositis Complex (CDMC).

The study led by Dr. Carrie Finno, Gregory L. Ferraro Endowed Director of the UC Davis Center for Equine Health (CEH), and Dr. Rebecca Bellone, Director of the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL), determined that the allele frequencies for equine familial isolated hypoparathyroidism (EFIH) and fragile foal syndrome (FFS) were low in a population of Thoroughbred horses.

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.

A study conducted by an international team of researchers led by VGL director, Dr. Rebecca Bellone, and with research performed by recent VGL Ph.D. recipient Nicole Kingsley, found that age and homozygosity for the leopard complex spotting allele (LP) are risk factors for insidious uveitis in the Knabstrupper horse. Genotyping for LP is, therefore, useful to assess risk and help inform clinical evaluations of equine recurrent uveitis in this breed.

A collaborative study between the Neuromuscular Disease Laboratory and the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the University of California, Davis, showed that genetic variants known to cause skeletal muscle disorders were present in one third of horses with clinical diagnosis of muscle disease who were submitted for histopathological examination.

Dr. Aleman, Professor in the Department of Medicine and Epidemiology at UC Davis, an expert in neuromuscular biology and lead investigator of this study noted:

The VGL equine genetics research team, led by Dr. Rebecca Bellone, has just published a new study on the heritability of insidious uveitis in the Appaloosa horse.

The study evaluated over 140 horses and the findings show that ERU is highly heritable in this breed. This study was the focus of Dr. Nicole Kingsley’s Ph.D. thesis work and is the first of several studies on the genetics of uveitis to be conducted as part of  Nicole’s thesis project.

The Ann T. Bowling Fellowship was established by the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) in memory of Dr. Ann Bowling, who was a pioneer in veterinary genetics. In line with the VGL’s mission to promote and enhance research and education in animal genetics, this fellowship provides one year of support to full-time graduate students in UC Davis Ph.D. programs whose research is directed at identifying and understanding the genetic basis of heritable disorders that afflict animal species.

The field of genetics has enabled us to predict susceptibility to heritable diseases and map the genome of many species. Now, modern genetics and the birth of a unique foal in New Zealand has provided a successful example of tracking a mutation at its origin.

The study done by researchers at the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) provide a baseline for assessing and managing genetic diversity in the American Standardbred horse. The American Standardbred was selectively bred for harness racing and, today, there are two gaits that these horses race at: the trot and the pace. The trot is a two-beat diagonal gait whereas the pace is a two-beat lateral gate.