Foal Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome

[baroquefarm]

yes, we can only hope that this does bring awareness, and people do report the illness so it can be studied and the causes be found so we can move ahead with trying to keep the disease from continuing

[cadeby]

The link won't work for me

Anyone have a copy they can pm/email?

Thanks, Helen

[Debbie]

I'm just glad the dales pony breeders now know this even exists! I mean, how can you think its a genetic problem or a disease if you don't even know it exists??

I think it will be a forwards progression now. Now that the breeders have been told this can happen, I feel if funds are available to allievate the financial burden (and any loss of foal is going to kill profit), they'll be doing their bit and testing foals that aren't thriving or have abruptly died. The test itself sounds straightforwards, but it will be down to getting the bone marrow into the hands of people who know how to read that test.

[zeldalithgow]

The link doesn't work for me either

[dalesponyrider]

The link has stopped working for me now although it did work previously.

[lucydales]

Sent via email Helen.

[cadeby]

Thanks Lucy

[SuzieP]

Doesn't work for me either. There could be a perfectly innocent explanation.

Luce - please would you email the article to me too?

[maggie]

I went to a really interesting event in Cumbria last night, Paul May from the Paragon Vet Group was speaking about Fell Foal Syndrome. 16 years ago, Paul was one of the very first vets to identify FFS and, as vet to many of the traditional Cumbrian Fell breeders, he maintains his interest and knowledge. I noted some of Paul’s talk and here it is:

The origin of the genetic mutation (and he agrees that this is the cause) is probably 1930s – 1940s, and possibly originated in a popular and well-used stallion. If the original mutation was in a mare, it would have probably died out. There may be viral and/or environmental factors implicated, but nothing has been identified to date.

Syndrome can show amongst large herds or in a single mare, all are normal genetic outcomes. A mare can have a number of foals by the same stallion without apparent problem, then have a syndrome foal. Similarly, a herd can suffer each year for a number of years, then go several years without loss.

Symptoms are generally visible – snotty nose, scours, failure to thrive etc., there may also be problems with the neurological system, but unsure how that presents. It was also noted that, although the foal is going to the mare for comfort, it is actually not suckling properly and many mares with syndrome foals of 8 weeks old have already dried off. If your foal is 8 weeks old and gaining weight – it’s not a syndrome foal.

The consequences of syndrome could be a long way removed from Fell ponies. The first case (Paul) attended was on a TB stud. Beware of the coloured ponies, there is so much Fell and Dales blood in them, the syndrome must be present.

Ponies that are carriers of the Syndrome tend (in Paul’s experience) to be the best ponies, syndrome seems to follow the strong lines. It is important not to lose the character of the breed by taking out the carriers. Sheep breeders have done this, trying to eliminate scrapie lines, and have done the population harm overall by losing the best characteristics along with scrapie. If carrier stallions are taken out of the breeding programme, the breed characteristics will be lost very quickly.

It is estimated that 60% – 80% of Fells are carriers and 10% - 12% of foals are affected. The Animal Health Trust (AHT) think they have enough funding to develop the carrier test and its use would be in current breeding stock and newborn foals. What are we going to do with the information that comes from the carrier tests? It is for the owner to decide in the light of all the facts.

There followed a question about breeding from a known carrier. The answer was
· that there are too many variables to give a simple answer, the owner would need to consider a range of factors of which syndrome would only be one
· the (Fell) breed relies on breeding from carriers for its continuance
· decisions will be easier with a test
· similar to the genetic condition in Arabs, for which a test is now available. Stallion owners now state their genetic status on their stud cards.

I may not have got this all down correctly and maybe others who were present will change and amend as necessary.

[harveydales]

Thanks, Maggie, a very detailed and interesting report.

[jap]

it was a very interesting and usefull talk.It was good to see a large number of traditional fell men there and a few dales people.

[DalesLady]

that about sums it up Maggie. It was a very interesting evening all told.

[zeldalithgow]

Very interesting, thanks Maggie

[Debbie]

Thank you for putting all that down, Maggie!! It was very enlightening

[maggie]

Penny and I wrote formally to the Council to gain their support for an open meeting where as many people as were interested could come together for discussion of the subject in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. I'm pleased to say that this has been approved and that as many Council members as can make it, would like to attend.

For this reason they have suggested that the meeting is held in the Parish Hall, Barnard Castle (where the AGM takes place) during October. We'd like to make it an informal, social affair where no question is a stupid one and all are free to take part in open and open-minded discussion. We will be inviting interested vets and research experts and Penny and I (as the stallion owner) are happy to talk about our own experiences and how we came to the decisions we did.

As I'm going to be booking the Hall, it would be useful to know how people feel about that, whether it should be weekday or weekend and daytime or evening.

I'd like to express my thanks to Council members for their sensible and measured approach to the subject of Syndrome, this is going to give us the very best chance of preserving the breed we're all so dedicated to.