LABOKLIN (UK)| Genetic Diseases | Horses| Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS) / Coat Colour Dilution Lethal (CCDL)

Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS) / Coat Colour Dilution Lethal (CCDL)

Test number: 8231 (this test number replaces the old 8301HGD)
Gene: LFS
Price: £ 48.00 (including VAT)

Breeds

Arabian , Quarab .

The Disease

Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS) is a lethal genetic disorder with neurological symptoms found in foals of Arabian horses, it is also known as Coat Colour Dilution Lethal (CCDL).

Affected foals are often delivered with difficulty (Dystocia), at birth, foals are unable to stand or sit upright, they extend their limbs, legs and back rigidly, the head and neck are drawn back, convulsions or spasms and rapid eye movements. it is thought that neurological symptoms are due to brain legion and disturbance of the Central nervous System.

The coat colour of most but not all affected foals is described to be very pale chestnut, lavender or light purple, pewter, pale pink or even silvery . The eyes have been described as grayish brown or having blue tint.

Affected foals will die, however, they are usually euthanized within few days of birth on humane grounds.

There is no treatment for the disease.

Lavender Foal Syndrome is only found in Arabian horses, particularly in Egyptian Arabian where prevalence is estimated at about 10%.

Trait of Inheritance

The trait of inheritance is Autosomal Recessive which means that only horses with two copies of the mutated gene (LFS/LFS) will be affected by the disease. Horses carrying one copy of the mutated gene and one copy of the normal gene (N/LFS) will not develop the disease but they can pass the mutation to their offspring. Genetic testing enables you to identify clear horses from carriers.

Inheritance : AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE trait

Sire	Dam	Offspring

clear	clear	100% clear

clear	carrier	50% clear + 50% carriers

clear	affected	100% carriers

carrier	clear	50% clear + 50% carriers

carrier	carrier	25% clear + 25% affected + 50% carriers

carrier	affected	50% carriers + 50% affected

affected	clear	100% carriers

affected	carrier	50% carriers + 50% affected

affected	affected	100% affected

Clear

Genotype: N / N [ Homozygous normal ]

The horse is noncarrier of the mutant gene.
It is very unlikely that the horse will develop Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS) / Coat Colour Dilution Lethal (CCDL). The horse will never pass the mutation to its offspring, and therefore it can be bred to any other horse.

Carrier

Genotype: N / LFS [ Heterozygous ]

The horse carries one copy of the mutant gene and one copy of the normal gene.
It is very unlikely that the horse will develop Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS) / Coat Colour Dilution Lethal (CCDL) but since it carries the mutant gene, it can pass it on to its offspring with the probability of 50%.
Carriers should only be bred to clear horses.
Avoid breeding carrier to carrier because 25% of their offspring is expected to be affected (see table above)

Affected

Genotype: LFS / LFS [ Homozygous mutant ]

The horse carries two copies of the mutant gene and therefore it will pass the mutant gene to its entire offspring.
The horse is likely to develop Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS) / Coat Colour Dilution Lethal (CCDL) and will pass the mutant gene to its entire offspring

Sample Requirements

Hair Sample from mane with roots (approx 30 hairs) , Buccal Swabs or 1 ml whole blood in EDTA tube.

How to obtain a viable hair sample

Pull around 30 hairs from the mane of the horse with the roots (in faols hair from the tail maybe taken). Wrap the hairs around your finger or a comb, as close as possible to the skin to ensure you obtain the hair roots. Keep dry, put in a bag, label the bag with the horse name, test (s) required. Place in an envelope and send back to us together with the order form. Broken or cut off hair will not be accepted.

Turnaround

1 - 2 weeks

Price

£ 48.00 (including VAT)