Post by maggie on Mar 30, 2011 10:14:07 GMT -1
The following has just come through on an email alert I subscribe to and I thought you may find it interesting
FIS test success
One year on, the test for Fell Pony Syndrome, has been acclaimed a great success. Fell pony syndrome, now known as Foal Immunodeficiency syndrome (FIS), as cases are not confined to one breed, is a fatal genetic disease. Affected foals die or are euthanased, usually before they reach three months of age.
Usually, signs are first noticed when the foal is a few weeks old, and include loss of condition, diarrhoea, coughing and weight loss. As the condition progresses, the foal develops anaemia, immune dysfunction, and wasting. Foals succumb to opportunistic infections such as diarrhoea and pneumonia.
Research led by Dr June Swinburne of the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, in collaboration with Professor Stuart Carter of the University of Liverpool, resulted in the development of a test for the genetic mutation responsible. The test is based on the examination of DNA extracted from hair samples. The work was made possible by funding from The Horse Trust.
The disease only appears when both parents carry the mutation. Breeders can avoid producing affected foals by ensuring that they do not breed two carriers together.
Nearly 1000 samples have been tested since the test became available in February 2010. Three quarters of the samples came from Fell ponies. Already nearly 10% of Fell Ponies worldwide and 20% of Dales ponies have been tested.
Of those tested, 47% of Fell ponies and 10% of Dales ponies were found to carry the mutation for FIS.
"This test, developed using funding from The Horse Trust, has been a massive success among the Fell and Dales pony breeding communities," Dr Swinburne said. "We hope the test will prevent unnecessary suffering among Fell and Dales pony foals as breeders can now easily prevent the conception of foals with FIS. As so many breeders tested their breeding stock last year, we hope there will be very few foals affected by this horrendous disease in the future."
The test can also be used to identify affected foals. FIS can be difficult to differentiate from other diseases of young foals - having many signs that are found in other conditions. An accurate, early diagnosis means that affected foals can be euthanased, avoiding the inevitable suffering. So far, the test has identified 13 affected foals with FIS (twelve Fell ponies and one Dales pony)
"We are really excited that the research we've funded has had such a big impact on the welfare of Fell and Dales ponies. We hope that breeders will continue to make use of this test to ensure that no more ponies have to suffer needlessly from this distressing disease," said Jeanette Allen, Chief Executive Officer of The Horse Trust.
PhD student Laura Fox-Clipsham has also been using the test to investigate if breeding with Fell or Dales ponies has led to the spread of the genetic mutation to other pony breeds. She has tested 200 samples each from coloured, Welsh Section D, Highland, Clydesdale and Exmoor ponies. Only the coloured ponies carried a low level of the mutation. There was no evidence of the mutation in the other breeds.
Edited by Mark Andrews. Equine Science News Published online 16.03.11
FIS test success
One year on, the test for Fell Pony Syndrome, has been acclaimed a great success. Fell pony syndrome, now known as Foal Immunodeficiency syndrome (FIS), as cases are not confined to one breed, is a fatal genetic disease. Affected foals die or are euthanased, usually before they reach three months of age.
Usually, signs are first noticed when the foal is a few weeks old, and include loss of condition, diarrhoea, coughing and weight loss. As the condition progresses, the foal develops anaemia, immune dysfunction, and wasting. Foals succumb to opportunistic infections such as diarrhoea and pneumonia.
Research led by Dr June Swinburne of the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, in collaboration with Professor Stuart Carter of the University of Liverpool, resulted in the development of a test for the genetic mutation responsible. The test is based on the examination of DNA extracted from hair samples. The work was made possible by funding from The Horse Trust.
The disease only appears when both parents carry the mutation. Breeders can avoid producing affected foals by ensuring that they do not breed two carriers together.
Nearly 1000 samples have been tested since the test became available in February 2010. Three quarters of the samples came from Fell ponies. Already nearly 10% of Fell Ponies worldwide and 20% of Dales ponies have been tested.
Of those tested, 47% of Fell ponies and 10% of Dales ponies were found to carry the mutation for FIS.
"This test, developed using funding from The Horse Trust, has been a massive success among the Fell and Dales pony breeding communities," Dr Swinburne said. "We hope the test will prevent unnecessary suffering among Fell and Dales pony foals as breeders can now easily prevent the conception of foals with FIS. As so many breeders tested their breeding stock last year, we hope there will be very few foals affected by this horrendous disease in the future."
The test can also be used to identify affected foals. FIS can be difficult to differentiate from other diseases of young foals - having many signs that are found in other conditions. An accurate, early diagnosis means that affected foals can be euthanased, avoiding the inevitable suffering. So far, the test has identified 13 affected foals with FIS (twelve Fell ponies and one Dales pony)
"We are really excited that the research we've funded has had such a big impact on the welfare of Fell and Dales ponies. We hope that breeders will continue to make use of this test to ensure that no more ponies have to suffer needlessly from this distressing disease," said Jeanette Allen, Chief Executive Officer of The Horse Trust.
PhD student Laura Fox-Clipsham has also been using the test to investigate if breeding with Fell or Dales ponies has led to the spread of the genetic mutation to other pony breeds. She has tested 200 samples each from coloured, Welsh Section D, Highland, Clydesdale and Exmoor ponies. Only the coloured ponies carried a low level of the mutation. There was no evidence of the mutation in the other breeds.
Edited by Mark Andrews. Equine Science News Published online 16.03.11
its truly chilling and a testament to all the researchers who worked so diligently to find the markers to make this test available. 
!