Some Genetic and Environmental Effects on Equine Asthma in Polish Konik Horses.
Authors: Borowska Alicja, Wolska Daria, Niedzwiedz Artur, Borowicz Hieronim, Jaworski Zbigniew, Siemieniuch Marta, Szwaczkowski Tomasz
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Genetic and Environmental Factors in Equine Asthma in Polish Konik Horses Polish Konik horses, a primitive breed with limited asthma research, were the focus of this investigation into the relative contributions of genetics and management to disease incidence. The researchers analysed 274 animals from two studs, using symptom-based screening (persistent coughing and nasal discharge) followed by clinical confirmation in 28 cases, alongside pedigree analysis to calculate individual and maternal inbreeding coefficients. Whilst logistic regression revealed no significant effect of parentage lines overall, chi-squared analysis identified certain maternal and paternal lines with pronounced predisposition to severe disease—a discrepancy highlighting the importance of analytical approach in genetic studies. Notably, maternal inbreeding coefficient emerged as a significant risk factor, whereas individual inbreeding level did not, and substantial between-stud variation in disease incidence suggested that environmental and management factors warrant equal investigative attention. For practitioners, these findings underscore that selective breeding decisions should account for maternal lineage risk profiles alongside stud-specific husbandry practices, rather than relying on individual pedigree coefficients alone to predict asthma susceptibility.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Maternal lineage genetics appear important for asthma risk in breeding programmes; consider maternal inbreeding coefficients when selecting breeding stock for primitive horse breeds
- •Management and environmental factors differ significantly between studs; investigate housing, ventilation, and stabling practices as potential asthma contributors alongside genetics
- •Routine monitoring for coughing and nasal discharge in certain maternal and paternal lines may enable earlier identification and management of equine asthma cases
Key Findings
- •Maternal inbreeding coefficient showed significant association with equine asthma incidence, while individual inbreeding level did not
- •Significant variability in asthma incidence was observed between the two studs studied
- •Some maternal and paternal lines demonstrated predisposition to severe equine asthma by chi-squared analysis, though logistic regression showed no significant parentage line effects
- •Sex and birth period effects on asthma morbidity were evaluated in 274 Polish Konik horses using clinical observation and diagnosis