Cerebellar Abiotrophy in Arabian Horses

The Arabian Horse Society Ltd.
REGULATION CHANGES

(November2010)

The Board has become increasing concerned at the number of Lavender Foal (LFS) and Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA) Arabians. Apart from the considerable expense to members who lose these foals there is the emotional heartache as well. DNA testing is now available in order to determine the carrier status of horses, this testing can assist members in making informed decisions when breeding in order to avoid breeding two carrier animals together. These conditions and SCID are recessive conditions which means that horses carrying one gene are not affected. Mating two carrier animals together can result in 25% affected foals, 50% carriers and 25% clear (non-carrier) offspring.

The Board feels it is important for members to utilize the availability of these tests in order to avoid producing affected foals. Although testing will cost money it is a small amount in comparison with the cost of a dead foal. Carrier animals will not be discriminated against in any way, there is nothing wrong with them and providing other carriers are not mated to them no affected foals will be born. Many members have already commenced testing their herds, some have requested that the results be available online for other members to view and this service will soon be available.

Foals conceived from two parents which are tested clear (non-carrier) for LFS will be assumed to be clear by the Society and will not require testing for LFS providing the Society is in receipt of the LFS test results for the parents. The same will apply if both parents are clear for SCID or CA.

All test results submitted to the Society will be treated confidentially unless the owner of the horse at the time of testing authorizes the results to be published on the online studbook. All the screening tests are DNA tests, done using hair samples.

SCID testing
At the moment this can only be done in USA or Holland (www.vhlgenetics.com) but the Board are again examining the patent preventing the test being peformed in Australia LFS testing – this is being done at many laboratories around the world including Holland,
Elizabeth Macarthur (Sydney) () and as from end November University of Queensland (organise through the Society in the same way as normal DNA typing)
CA testing – this is being done at many laboratories around the world including Holland and as from early next year University of Queensland. To date, the test has been indirect but a better test has been developed which will be commercially available early in 2011 and this will be utilized by Uni of Qld

Testing Arabians in Australia
In an attempt to encourage members to test horses at the time of registration there will be a discount offered on DNA if LFS &/or CA testing is done at the same time as the DNA for registration. The fee for LFS is $60 & CA $60 at Uni of Qld, the normal DNA fee is $70 but this will be reduced to $60 if LFS &/or CA is performed at the same time.

As from 1st August 2011

• All Purebred Arabian mares to be used in Embryo Transfer or Ovum Transfer programs must have their SCID, LFS & CA test results on file with the Society before they will be approved for use in such a program. Carrier mares will still be issued with an ET permit.
• All Purebred Arabian foals born using frozen semen (Australian or Overseas) will require testing for SCID, LFS & CA prior to registration with results submitted to the Society. Carrier animals will still be registered.
• All Purebred Arabian Stallions/Colts to be nominated for use at stud for the first time in Australia will require testing for SCID, LFS & CA prior to approval of nomination with results submitted to the Society. Carrier animals will still be approved for use at stud.
• Any Stallion/Colt whose owner authorizes publication of the SCID, CA & LFS results on the online studbook will receive free nomination to stand at stud that year