How Can Horse Owners Test For EMS?
Photo Credit: Brittany Bevis
EMS is linked to obesity, insulin resistance, and laminitis—a painful and debilitating inflammation of tissue in a horse’s hooves, which can necessitate euthanasia in severe cases.
A team of University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine researchers recently set out to investigate genetic mutations in two breeds that are at higher risk for EMS: Morgan horses and Welsh ponies.
The scientists found:
- EMS is polygenetic, which means horses with an EMS diagnosis often have mutations on more than one gene
both breed-specific mutations associated with EMS, and mutations shared between the two breeds
The researchers concluded that a single gene genetic test will not reveal to owners whether or not their horse is genetically predisposed to EMS. Rather, the scientists suggest further research be done into developing a more intricate panel test to meet the complexity of the disease’s genetic nature.
