Independent Veterinary Laboratory Consultant & Founder Amwell Data Services LLC Ringoes, New Jersey, United States
Abstract: Background The influence of genetics on endocrine disorders is not well understood. Evaluating endocrine disorders among different horse breeds may improve identification and management of these pathologies.
Hypothesis/Objectives The objective was to compare PPID and ID status and frequency of endocrine-associated signs within horse breeds grouped by clade.
Animals Horses and ponies (n=5,605), ages 10 to 45, with endocrine-associated clinical signs were tested for endocrine disorders by their veterinarian.
Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on veterinarian-provided data from a 2016-2020 study of ponies and horses with suspected endocrine disorders. Equids were considered PPID positive if spring basal, spring post-TRH-stimulated, or fall basal ACTH levels were >35, >110, or >50 pg/mL, respectively, and considered ID positive if basal insulin levels were >20 uIU/mL. Frequencies of PPID, ID, laminitis, and recurrent infections were analyzed using chi-square or two-way ANOVA.
Results PPID and ID rates were highest in Clades 3 and 1 at 61.49 and 72.89 percent, respectively, and lowest in Clades 2 and 4 at 24.05 and 27.93 percent, respectively. All clades had higher rates of ID than PPID except Clades 4 and 6. Recurrent infections were least correlated with endocrine disorders (p=0.0001) and were lowest in PPID+/ID+ horses (p=0.0234) and clades 1-3 and 5 (p< 0.0001). Laminitis was observed more frequently in ID+ horses (p=0.0002) and less frequently in clades 4 and 6 (p=0.0051).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance The observed differences in endocrine disorder frequencies among clades highlight the need to better understand the involvement of genetics within endocrine disorders.
.jpg "Rachel Lemcke, BS, MS (she/her/hers) photo")
