Prematurity and Dysmaturity Are Associated With Reduced Height and Shorter Distal Limb Length in Horses |
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| Institution: | 2. Canine and Equine Research Group, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia;1. Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, New England Highway, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia;3. School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia;1. Racehorse Hospital, Miho Training Center, Japan Racing Association, Ibaraki, Japan;2. Laboratory of Racing Chemistry, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan;3. Racehorse Hospital, Ritto Training Center, Japan Racing Association, Shiga, Japan;4. Equine Department, Japan Racing Association, Tokyo, Japan;1. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil;2. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil;3. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil;4. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Large Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil;1. College of Health Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia;2. Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates;3. Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia;4. Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Bishoftu, Ethiopia;1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil;2. Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil;3. Departamento de Veterinária Preventiva, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil;4. Departamento de Clínicas Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | The long-term effects of gestational immaturity in the premature (defined as < 320 days gestation) and dysmature (normal term but showing some signs of prematurity) foal have not been thoroughly investigated. Studies have reported that a high percentage of gestationally immature foals with related orthopedic issues such as incomplete ossification may fail to fulfill their intended athletic purpose, particularly in Thoroughbred racing. In humans, premature birth is associated with shorter stature at maturity and variations in anatomical ratios, linked to alterations in metabolism and timing of physeal closure in the long bones. We hypothesized that gestational immaturity in horses might similarly be associated with reduced height and different anatomical ratios at maturity. In this preliminary study, the skeletal ratios of horses with a history of gestational immaturity, identified through veterinary and breeder records, were compared with those of unaffected, closely related horses (i.e., sire, dam, sibling). External measurements were taken from conformation photographs of cases (n = 19) and related horses (n = 28), and these were then combined into indices to evaluate and compare metric properties of conformation. A principal component analysis showed that the first two principal components account for 43.8% of the total conformational variation of the horses’ external features, separating horses with a rectangular conformation (body length > height at the withers), from those that are more square (body length = height at the withers). Varimax rotation of PC1 and analysis of different gestational groups showed a significant effect of gestational immaturity (P = .001), with the premature group being more affected than the dysmature group (P = .009, P = .012). Mean values for the four dominant indices showed that these groups have significantly lower distal limb to body length relationships than controls. The observed differences suggest that gestational immaturity may affect anatomical ratios at maturity, which, in combination with orthopedic issues arising from incomplete ossification, may have a further impact on long-term athletic potential. |
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| Keywords: | Premature foals Dysmature foals Conformation Developmental programming Fetal programming |
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