Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Clinical and pathological findings in a HERDA-affected foal for 1.5 years of life.
- Journal:
- Veterinary dermatology
- Year:
- 2007
- Authors:
- White, Stephen D et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A Quarter horse filly, born to parents with a genetic condition called HERDA (hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia), was closely observed for 1.5 years. The filly did not show severe symptoms of the disease until she reached 1.5 years old, and these symptoms were not linked to the use of a saddle. When comparing her skin samples to those from a healthy horse of the same age, breed, and sex, there were no clear signs that could help diagnose HERDA. This study confirmed that HERDA is inherited in a specific way, that affected mares can give birth without harming themselves, and that foals with HERDA can look normal for their first year. Overall, the treatment and monitoring did not lead to a clear diagnosis based on skin samples, indicating that more research is needed.
Abstract
A Quarter horse filly bred from two horses affected with HERDA (hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia) was observed clinically and its skin histologically for the 1.5 years of its life. Severe signs of the disease did not manifest until 1.5 years of age, and were not temporally related to saddling. Histological comparison to an age-, breed- and sex-matched control did not show any consistent diagnostic features. Monitoring of the proband substantiated previous reports of (i) the autosomal recessive nature of the disease, (ii) mares affected with HERDA being able to foal without damage to the skin or reproductive tract, (iii) HERDA foals appearing phenotypically normal throughout the first year of life, and (iv) demonstrated that histological interpretation of skin specimens from grossly normal skin may be insufficient to differentiate HERDA-affected horses from controls.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17222238/