DNA test
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DNA test for the Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS) – Pure and part-bred Arab horses. This test verifies the presence of the recessive LFS gene.
Sample
- 30 to 40 - hair roots - envelope
- 5 mL - blood - K3 EDTA tube
Turnaround time
- 2 to 5 working days
Why test?
- This genetic test determines LFS clear, carrier or affected status. Informed choices can be made for breeding selections, and prevent the born of affected foals.
Results description
The DNA test verifies the presence of the recessive LFS gene and presents results as one of the following:
- N/ – Non-carrier of the LFS gene. Tested negative for the LFS gene.
- N/LFS - Heterozygous horse for LFS, both the normal and LFS alleles were detected. The horse is a carrier of LFS genetic disorder and there is a 50% chance this horse will pass a LFS allele to its offspring
- LFS/ – Homozygous horse for LFS, carrier of two copies of the LFS gene. The horse is affected with the LFS genetic disorder.
Additional information
Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS) is a recessive genetic disorder.
Affected foals born with the unique diluted coat color that can appear to be pale lavender, pale pink or silver. This foals-often have a difficult delivery, problems standing at birth and usually have episodes where they rigidly extend their limbs, neck and back. These episodes tend to resemble a seizure, although the affected foal does not seem normal between episodes.
All affected foals are usually euthanised within days or weeks of birth.
LFS is rare and is considered to be an autosomal recessive trait. “Autosomal” means that there is no sex linkage, so both males and females can be equally affected. “Recessive” means that in order for a foal to be affected, it must have received two copies of the mutated gene, inheriting one copy from each parent.
Horses that have one copy of the mutated gene, in combination with one copy of the normal gene, are physically normal but are considered carriers and have a 50% probability, each time they are bred, of passing the mutation along to their offspring.
The SNP mutation that causes LFS has not been detected in other breeds.
Testing for this mutation in horses with no Arabian blood lines is not recommended. However, in cases where pedigree is not known, testing could be a useful tool to prevent possible affected foals.