A review of scientific literature on inherited disorders in domestic horse breeds

Bettley, C D and Cardwell, J M and Collins, L M and Asher, L

Animal Welfare (2012) 21: 59–64

DOI: 10.7120/096272812799129448

Abstract

The full extent to which inherited disorders occur in different breeds of domestic horse (_Equus caballus_) has not been previously been investigated. A systematic search was carried out to review scientific literature on inherited disorders in domestic horse breeds and examine patterns in potentially inherited disorders. A two-part search was conducted: (i) electronic bibliographic databases for published studies; and (ii) existing online databases of inherited disorders in animals. A total of 230 papers were identified, discussing 102 inherited disorders in the horse. Few cases (17) were found in which disorders were reported to have a direct link to a conformational or phenotypic trait. Forty-nine breeds of domestic horse were described as being predisposed to one or more inherited disorders, but such predispositions did not distinguish between genetic or environmental causes. There were few patterns in the number of disorders to which breeds were reportedly predisposed or in the extent to which disorders were researched. The structure and grouping of disorders presented here could assist with standardisation in the terminology used for describing inherited disorders.

Citation

Bettley, C. D., Cardwell, J. M., Collins, L. M., & Asher, L. (2012). A review of scientific literature on inherited disorders in domestic horse breeds. Animal Welfare, 21(1), 59–64. https://doi.org/10.7120/096272812799129448 [Indexed using CAB Thesaurus terms], animals, Chordata, eukaryotes, mammals, reviews, ungulates, vertebrates, Animal Genetics and Breeding [LL240], Equidae, Equus, horses, Perissodactyla, Non-communicable Diseases and Injuries of Animals [LL860], research, studies, terminology, animal rights, animal welfare, Animal Welfare [LL810], Information and Documentation [CC300], databases, breeds, data banks, animal breed, animal breeds, hereditary diseases, horse breeds, inheritance, quality of life, standardization

Keywords

• [Indexed using CAB Thesaurus terms]
• animals
• Chordata
• eukaryotes
• mammals
• reviews
• ungulates
• vertebrates
• Animal Genetics and Breeding [LL240]
• Equidae
• Equus
• horses
• Perissodactyla
• Non-communicable Diseases and Injuries of Animals [LL860]
• research
• studies
• terminology
• animal rights
• animal welfare
• Animal Welfare [LL810]
• Information and Documentation [CC300]
• databases
• breeds
• data banks
• animal breed
• animal breeds
• hereditary diseases
• horse breeds
• inheritance
• quality of life
• standardization