Bellone

VGL-led Team Identifies Genetic Variant Associated with Distichiasis in Friesians

An interdisciplinary team led by VGL Director Dr. Rebecca Bellone identified a genetic variant associated with distichiasis in Friesian horses. This is the first identification of a genetic variant linked to equine distichiasis, an ocular disease characterized by eyelashes that grow from abnormal positions along the edge of the eyelid and often lead to corneal irritation and damage.

VGL's Dr. Rebecca Bellone Featured in Equine Veterinary Journal Podcast

In early April, VGL Director Dr. Rebecca Bellone joined the Equine Veterinary Journal podcast "EVJ in Conversation" to discuss catastrophic breakdown in racehorses as well as her recent paper, which found no evidence of linkage between catastrophic breakdown and the mutation that causes Warmblood fragile foal syndrome type 1 (WFFS).

Ocular Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Belgian Horses

A new study by researchers at the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory investigated the occurrence of ocular squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the Belgian breed to determine if the mutation known to be associated with ocular SCC in Haflingers is also a risk factor for the same condition in Belgian horses.