Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia (HERDA)
Also known as Hyperelastosis Cutis (HC) is a genetic skin disease predominately found in the American Quarter Horse. Researchers at Mississippi State University and Cornell University believe that the origin of this genetic disorder may be the Poco Bueno's sire line. Symptoms of this disorder is a lack of adhesion within the layers of skin due to a genetic defect in the collagen that holds the skin in place. This defect causes the outer layer of skin to split or separate from the deeper layers sometimes tearing off completely. Areas under saddle seem to be most prone to these lesions often leaving permanent scares, preventing the horse from being ridden. The disorder is recessive, which means that a horse must be homozygous positive or have two copies of the defective gene to suffer from the disease. Consequently both the sire and the dam must possess at least one copy of the mutated gene in order for the offspring to be afflicted. Offspring born with one copy of the defective gene and one non-defective copy are considered a carrier and have a 50% chance of passing the defective gene on.
Although there is no cure for the disorder, Animal Genetics has developed a simple DNA test to detect a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) mutation with a high degree of association to this disorder.
HERDA Testing
Animal Genetics offers DNA testing and detection of the gene mutation responsible for Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia (HERDA) also known as hyperelastosis cutis (HC). See 'order now' to obtain the necessary testing form.
Pricing: £28.00 per test (inclusive of tax, certification included free of charge)
Turnaround time: 7 business days.
Results: Phoned, faxed or e-mailed. Testing certificate dispatched after conclusion of test.
