The Genetics Of Anhidrosis

PhD and Laura Patterson Rosa DVM PhD of the University of Florida has been investigating the genetics of anhidrosis and attempting to identify a defect associated with the syndrome full disclosure I am also a small contributor to this research.
Click here to learn more about a study into headshaking relief measures.
Analysis using the GenomeWide Association Study GWAS technique to broadly look for genomic associations with anhidrosis yielded additional information that was recently published by Brooks and Patterson. A casecontrol GWAS using statematched cases and controls collected from across the United States totaling 200 individual horses showed a strongly supported candidate region containing the KCNE4 gene. Sequence analysis revealed a single nucleotide polymorphism SNPa variation in a base pair of genes within a DNA sequencelikely to alter KCNE4 protein function. This gene encodes a portion of a potassium channel protein with a possible function in sweat gland outflow.
The upshot of this genomic detail The analysis points to a novel genetic factor for anhidrosis suggesting some degree of heritability. This work is far from completemuch more research needs to be done to validate and confirm these findings. But as an equine veterinarian advising a horse owner about how to use this information right away these findings suggest that anhidrosis is heritable. Unfortunately we dont yet have enough information or tests available to help select the ideal stallion to cancel out your mares anhidrosis. The best recommendation I can give at this point is to avoid breeding her.