Genetics of Equine Respiratory Disease

Abstract

Genetic factors influence the development of guttural pouch tympany, recurrent laryngeal neuropathy, severe equine asthma, exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, and possibly also some malformations and infectious diseases of the respiratory tract. The current data suggest that most of these diseases are complex, resulting from the interaction between several genes and environmental factors. To date, no specific genes or causative mutations have been identified that would allow the development of practical genetic tests. In the future, genetic profiling panels, based on multiple genetic markers and environmental risk factors, may allow identification of individuals with an increased genetic risk.

Keywords: Equine asthma; Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage; Genetics; Guttural pouch tympany; Horses; Recurrent laryngeal neuropathy; Respiratory disorders.