Samples are still required from normal, non-HWSS affected, Connemara ponies

Several more enquiries have been received from people willing to help with the research at UC Davis by submitting blood samples from their ponies.  If everyone who has requested the submission forms, collection/shipping instructions and the import permit (for outside of the USA) send their samples, then the closer Bannasch Laboratory will be to having the numbers required to meet the testing protocols.

Samples from unaffected ponies are needed and wanted; there has been no shortage of submissions from affected ponies.

Time to step up people - ponies whose samples that are used in this research will be issued with a report at the end of the research.  The end of the research will occur well in advance of the test becoming available commercially because of legal/patenting issues.

So get in now and be ahead of the rest.  This opportunity could be especially relevant to owners of stallions standing at public stud or to owners who regularly sell their youngstock at weaning.  All this will cost you is the collection and shipping costs, and your time.

Private message the research group to obtain the paperwork required to submit samples.

As an 'aside' the group often gets queries about whether HWSS is present in other breeds.  It has always been the group's opinion that, yes this problem does occur in other minority breeds, but that it is the Connemara breed which has acknowledged that there is a problem and has stepped up to the plate to do something productive and useful about the issue.

So to the list of breeds with authoritative reports of a hoof condition which appears similar to HWSS, we now add Haflinger.

Today is the equinox - for those in the southern hemisphere this means the glory of Spring and rebirth.  For those in the northern hemisphere, the time when the day length really begins to telescope and for those in the colder climbs the onset of the challenges of  Autumn (Fall) and Winter.

Best wishes to all, whichever hemisphere in which you and your ponies may reside.

It is Official - More Samples required for HWSS Research

It is Official - 

UC Davis requires/needs more samples to continue with their research into the causes of HWSS.

Whole blood samples are required from both unaffected and affected ponies.

Submissions from affected ponies require high quality digital photographs to accompany the blood samples.  Where possible a full medical history is also desired.  A farrier's report could also be useful.

If you want your ponies to be part of this research project you need to contact UC Davis OR the Research Group to obtain the correct submission forms and the sample collection protocols.

Samples from outside of the USA will require an import permit which can be obtained from UC Davis or the group.

UC Davis have not indicated how many samples they need BUT let us, the Connemara community, show how important this issue is to the health and welfare of the breed and get as many samples as possible to UC Davis as quickly as possible.   

They need more samples to go onto the next stage of the research. Until they have enough the process will slow down dramatically.  Some of the research equipment used runs in cycles with 48 samples per cycle.  A run does not  get wasted  by loading less than the optimum number of samples; it all comes back to economies of scale.  So until there are enough samples for a 'run' all must wait.

Both UC Davis and the group look forward to having our in-boxes flooded with requests for submission documentation and import permits.

The contact details for UC Davis are on their poster Here is the link to UC Davis

Putting email addresses directly onto the blog, sadly invites the attentions of spam crawlers, so you will need to go directly to the UC Davis page to get their contact details.

Vale for 'Duncan'

Duncan was euthanased yesterday, (northern hemisphere time, Thursday) after much heart searching on the part of his owners and the advising professionals.  His owners have given the research group permission to tell his story here.

Duncan was born in Ireland.  He was purchased as a yearling with the intention for him to be the next stallion for the stud.  His bloodlines were intended to bring in several 'outcrosses' ('new blood') to the local Connemara pony breeding population.

When Duncan arrived at his new home his hooves were very short but otherwise looked 'normal'.  Not long after his arrival however it became very apparent that there was a problem with Duncan's feet as they began to chip and peel.  His owners contacted their veterinarian for advice and so began the hoof dis-infection, antibiotic, feed supplementation, special shoes, hoof bonding/casting, despondency, treadmill that only those who have had an HWSS affected pony can attest too.  When none of these interventions resulted in an improvement Duncan was referred to the local veterinary school, where along with the in-house specialist farrier, more aggressive treatment began.  There had to be something that could be done for this pony, right?

Then serendipity and a degree of networking brought answers to Duncan's owners (and the people at the veterinary school) when this blog, the work of the research group  and Bannasch Laboratory was brought to their notice.  Duncan was promptly enrolled with the Bannasch Laboratory at UC Davis and his blood samples and other relevant information was dispatched in time, to be included in the second stage of the research.

Now Duncan is adding a unique postscript; two of his hooves are going to Amercia while the other two remain with researchers in his home country.   Hopefully his death will not be in vain and what is learned from his feet will, in the future stop any more ponies from being born with this condition.

Duncan became the 'poster boy' for HWSS in his home country.  There are excellent pictures here of Duncan's feet at various stage throughout the 2 years of his life he lived with his owners.  He never was able to be made sound regardless of what was done for him.

For those with the understanding of DNA technology the intention is to try and isolate the mRNA from the coronary band of the affected hooves to find out at what point of the keratinsation process in the hoof tissues that the defect begins.

An update on the progress of the DNA research came through today.  The researchers are now looking at specific genes, not just areas on the genome, previously referred to as 'areas of significance'.  The original GWAS found the areas of significance.  These areas were then sequenced more fully and the areas needing closer scrutiny reduced to 15 genes.    Now the results from the first of three of the 'most likely to be implicated genes' are through.  This sequencing has narrowed down the area of interest even further.  The next two candidate genes are to be sequenced in the next few weeks.  

Several genes can code for just one 'thing' hence the need to look at all of the 'suspect' genes. The hope is that by comparing the combinations of these sequences this will show the exact location/s where the mutation/s on the  gene/s  is/are occurring.

The 'good news' apart which Bannasch has delivered today, our condolences are extended to the owners of Duncan and the members of the research group thank them from the bottom of our hearts for making the difficult (as in logistics as well as emotional) decision to donate Duncan's feet to the two universities.

Kia Kaha