Limbal squamous cell carcinoma in Haflinger horses
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Mary Lassaline1, Taryn L Cranford2, Claire A Latimer3
1Department of Surgical & Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Insights
Haflinger horses show a higher prevalence of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), often diagnosed at a younger age. Pedigree analysis suggests a potential heritable basis, possibly autosomal recessive, for LSCC in this breed.
Area of Science:
- Equine genetics
- Veterinary ophthalmology
- Animal breeding
Background:
- Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a significant concern in horses.
- Haflinger horses may be disproportionately affected by LSCC.
- Understanding the genetic underpinnings of LSCC is crucial for breed management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of LSCC in Haflinger horses.
- To investigate the genetic mode of inheritance for LSCC in this breed.
- To identify potential genetic risk factors within Haflinger pedigrees.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 19 Haflinger horses diagnosed with LSCC.
- Analysis of four-generation pedigrees for 15 affected horses.
- Clinical examination of potential carrier stallions.
Main Results:
- The average age of diagnosis for LSCC in Haflingers was 8.7 years.
- Thirteen of 15 analyzed horses shared a common ancestor within five generations.
- A common sire was identified for two affected males, with no clinical signs, suggesting recessive inheritance.
Conclusions:
- Haflingers may have an increased susceptibility to LSCC, with earlier age of onset.
- Close relatedness among affected Haflingers indicates a probable heritable component.
- Further investigation using Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) is warranted to elucidate the genetic basis of LSCC in Haflingers.
Objective:
To describe the prevalence of LSCC in Haflinger horses and to analyze affected horses' pedigrees investigating the genetic mode of inheritance.
Animals:
Fifteen horses met inclusion criterion of (i) being of the Haflinger breed, as confirmed by North American Haflinger Registry pedigree and (ii) being diagnosed with LSCC, as confirmed by clinical examination by a veterinary ophthalmologist or by histopathology. Pedigrees could not be obtained for four additional horses diagnosed with LSCC that had been identified as Haflingers.
Procedure:
Retrospective medical record review of all 19 horses was used to determine patient sex and age at diagnosis. The four-generation pedigrees available for 15 of the horses were used to perform pedigree analysis.
Results:
Average age of 19 Haflingers at diagnosis with LSCC was 8.7 years. Eleven were males and eight were females. Thirteen of 15 affected horses for whom pedigrees were available shared a common ancestor within five generations, and all 15 shared a common ancestor from the A stallion line in the breed pedigree. Pedigree analysis identified a common sire of two of the affected male horses. Clinical examination of this sire that had no history of LSCC showed no current clinical signs of LSCC, suggesting an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.
Conclusions:
Haflingers may be over-represented amongst horses with LSCC and may be diagnosed at a younger age than other breeds. Affected Haflingers appear closely related, suggesting a possible heritable basis for LSCC. The genetic basis for LSCC will be investigated further by a GWAS approach.
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