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2005 Syndrome Update Mary Jean Gould-Earley, MD The following articles on DNA testing and the Fell Foal Syndrome have been reproduced for the convenience of our new members who may not have received this important information previously. There is an alarming amount of misinformation "out there" regarding the Fell Foal syndrome. Sometimes it seems that exaggeration, rumors and misinformation can do more to damage the breed than the syndrome ever could! Please remember that the inheritance pattern of the disease, although suspected to be a recessive problem, remains unknown! Speculation and rumor can be very damaging and will not help find the cause—only the researchers can and this necessitates the cooperation of all breeders. One must also remember that with ongoing research, information regarding the syndrome is in constant flux. Some of the information from the 2002 Syndrome Symposium (reprinted following link for "What is the Syndrome" below), is very out-dated, but hopefully will help provide a little background to this problem. Even some of the most recent published papers have already been disproved, so take everything you read on this with a grain of salt! At present, the syndrome remains rare, over the last few years averaging 10-12 cases per year out of 300-350 foals registered annually worldwide. The incidence previously reported as "10%" was based on a nonrandom sample of foals in the UK several years ago, but there has yet to be that many confirmed cases in a year when considering the population as a whole. The true incidence remains unknown. In 2003, FPSNA organized a multidisciplinary research team to study this problem, which has grown to include scientists from Harvard, Cornell, University of Kentucky, as well as scientists and veterinarians abroad who have submitted samples from affected foals for this research effort. Our team has also applied for an NIH grant, because research on the syndrome may end up helping children with certain rare forms of inherited bone marrow failure. As the breeder contact person for the research team, please feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns at lhf@sunlink.net

Originally published in Fell Pony Express, the newsletter of FPSNA, Fall 2002, and updated June, 2005.

DNA-testing of Fell Ponies for Syndrome Research

Many of us have already submitted samples on all Fell ponies, including all foals and imports, as part of Dr. Gus Cothran's ongoing research program which began in 2000. DNA-testing with parentage verification is also required for FPS registration if foals are conceived by artificial insemination. Dr. Cothran was kind enough to provide this service free of charge for several years. If you have additional ponies that have not yet been tested, you are encouraged to do so. DNA samples on as many Fell ponies as possible is needed to help determine the genetic cause for the syndrome. This is why everyone's help is appreciated!

NOTE: the testing is no longer free unless specific samples are needed for research purposes. However, the cost is currently only $31. Blood samples are strongly preferred over hair samples for DNA-testing, and hair should only be submitted as a last resort. A single blood sample can serve all 3 purposes: syndrome research, parentage verification and Dr. Cothran's population studies. Special kits for the blood samples can be obtained from Dr. Cothran.

E.Gus Cothran
Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-4458
GCothran@cvm.tamu.edu
(979) 845-0229