Mixed inheritance of equine recurrent airway obstruction.
BACKGROUND
Mode of inheritance of equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
Major genes are responsible for RAO.


METHODS
Direct offspring of 2 RAO-affected Warmblood stallions (n = 197; n = 163) and a representative sample of Swiss Warmbloods (n = 401).


METHODS
One environmental and 4 genetic models (general, mixed inheritance, major gene, and polygene) were tested for Horse Owner Assessed Respiratory Signs Index (1-4, unaffected to severely affected) by segregation analyses of the 2 half-sib sire families, both combined and separately, using prevalences estimated in a representative sample.


RESULTS
In all data sets the mixed inheritance model was most likely to explain the pattern of inheritance. In all 3 datasets the mixed inheritance model did not differ significantly from the general model (P= .62, P= 1.00, and P= .27) but was always better than the major gene model (P < .01) and the polygene model (P < .01). The frequency of the deleterious allele differed considerably between the 2 sire families (P= .23 and P= .06). In both sire families the displacement was large (t= 17.52 and t= 12.24) and the heritability extremely large (h(2)= 1).


CONCLUSIONS
Segregation analyses clearly reveal the presence of a major gene playing a role in RAO. In 1 family, the mode of inheritance was autosomal dominant, whereas in the other family it was autosomal recessive. Although the expression of RAO is influenced by exposure to hay, these findings suggest a strong, complex genetic background for RAO.
Gerber
V
V
Equine Clinic, Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Berne, Switzerland. vinzenz.gerber@knp.unibe.ch
Baleri
D
D
Klukowska-Rötzler
J
J
Swinburne
J E
JE
Dolf
G
G
D000818:Animals; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D006736:Horses; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D008957:Models, Genetic