Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a wide-spread issue in the horse population.  Primarily characterized by hyperinsulinemia (excess insulin circulating in the blood in relation to glucose levels), this metabolic disorder is often present in obese horses and ponies and can be challenging to diagnose as it can be misdiagnosed as "Cushing's" (a pituitary disfunction).  Few treatments exist for EMS outside of diet management and exercise, which increases the need for early detection and prevention.  Should obesity be allowed to set in, secondary chronic conditions, such as laminitis can easily follow and further compromise the health of the horse.  Breeders have also observed that horses with a tendency toward obesity (EMS) can also be difficult to manage in a reproductive environment (difficult to get in foal).

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A genomewide association study (GWAS) using Arabian horses with a history of severe laminitis secondary to EMS revealed significant genetic markers near a single candidate gene that may play a role in cholesterol homeostasis.  This same genetic candidate correlated with a 9 time greater risk for Laminitis in horses with one or more variants that were also overweight/obese.

EMS Risk

-/- = n/n  - No EMS variants detected.  Normal risk for EMS and Laminitis

+/- = EMS/n  - One EMS variant detected.  Horse is at risk for EMS and at increased risk for Laminitis

+/+ = EMS/EMS - Two EMS variants detected.  Horse is at risk for EMS and at increased risk for Laminitis (9 times greater risk than "normal" horses with no EMS variant

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EMS-Related Laminitis Risk

-/- = n/n  - No EMS-LAM variants detected.  Normal risk for EMS-related Laminitis

+/- = EMS/n  - One EMS-LAM variant detected.  Horse is at increased risk for EMS-related Laminitis*

+/+ = EMS/EMS - Two EMS-LAM variants detected.  Horse is at increased risk for EMS - related Laminitis*

*9 times greater risk than "normal" horses with no EMS variant

Publications:

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Lewis, S. L., Holl, H.M, Streeter, C., Posbergh, C., Schanbacher, B. J., Place, N. J., Mallicote, M. F., Long, M. T., Brooks, S. A. (2017) Genomewide association study reveals a risk locus for equine metabolic syndrome in the Arabian horse. J Anim Sci 2017 Mar;95(2) 1071-1079

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