Profiling of genetic markers useful for breeding decision in Selle Francais horse.

Genetic disorders are recognised as hereditary diseases with the most significant economic impact on horse breeding, causing important foal losses, costs of treatments of horses, and maintenance of the mare during the pregnancy. The Selle Francais horses are recognized in many countries and are showing great results in equestrian sports around the world (dressage, show jumping and eventing). The study aimed to detect the presence of three mutant alleles associated with inherited diseases including Fragile Foal Syndrome (FFS), Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA), Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM1) and variant impacting gait type in DMRT3. This trait is important for breeding decision in Selle Francais horses and sheds new light on genetic potential and risks on this breed. The genotyping was performed on 91 Selle Francais horses using PCR-RFLP (for POLD1; GYS1 and DMRT3 genes) and PCR-ACRS (TOE1 gene) methods. The presented report indicated the presence of mutant allele A casual for PSSM1 and allele T associated with FFS syndrome occurrence, in 4% and 6% of analysed horses, respectively. Regarding CA, the present survey did not register any cases of this genetic disorder in Selle Francais horses. Our results show also that about 1% of all the Sell Francais horses studied carry the A allele of DMRT3 gene. The present findings have provided data for these fulness of monitoring genetic diseases and gait type in the investigated breed to avoid losses of offspring.

Investigation of Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA), Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS), and Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) Variants in a Cohort of Three MENA Region Horse Breeds.

Genetic disorders in horses are mostly fatal or usually cause significant economic losses for breeders and owners. Here we studied a total of 177 Arabian, Barb and Arab-Barb horses from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) using Sanger Sequencing and PCR-ACRS (polymerase chain reaction-artificially created restriction site) approaches to examine the genetic disorders in the studied horse breeds. We identified the genetic variations related to Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA), Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) occurrence, and the studied population was free of the mutant allele determined Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS). Overall, presented data showed that 15 of the studied horses are carriers of two genetic disorders; the investigated horse population showed that five Arabian horses were heterozygous for the CA-associated SNP (rs397160943). The SCID-deletion TCTCA within PRKDC was detected in ten horses (nine Arabian horses and one Arab-Barb horse). This investigation shows the importance of testing these breeds for genetic disorders to avoid further spread of deleterious variants.

Determination of the optimal time of vaccination against infectious bursal disease virus (Gumboro) in Algeria.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of maternally derived antibody (MDA) on live vaccine against infectious bursal disease. A total of 140 chicks selected from vaccinated parent stock were used in this investigation. In a preset vaccination schedule, blood samples were collected to check for the actual effect. It was noticed that on day 1 the chicks contained a high level (6400.54 ± 2993.67) of maternally derived antibody that gradually decreased below a positive level within 21 days (365.86 ± 634.46). It was found that a high level of MDA interferes with the vaccine virus, resulting in no immune response. For better immune response, it is suggested that the chickens should be vaccinated at day 21, as the uniformity of MDA is poor (coefficient of the variation [CV] > 30%), and boosted at day 28. Indeed, two vaccinations are necessary to achieve good protection against infectious bursal disease virus of the entire flock.