Genetics and markers of navicular disease in warmblood sport horses

Abstract

The aim of the study was to do a review of the studies regarding the genetic background of navicular disease in sports horses. Navicular disease is a common locomotor disorder in horses with a polygenetic background and when found in a horse is often causing a retirement of the horses sport carrier. Navicular disease is a disease including several structures of the podotrochlear apparatus. The navicular bone, navicular bursa, deep digital flexor tendon, collateral sesamoid ligaments, and the distal sesamoid ligament impar are said to be involved in the disease. It is often seen in sports horses from 7-9 years of age when different degree of forelimb lameness is detected. The lameness and diagnostic nerve blocking is not the same from case to case so diagnostic imaging is the only method to prove the diagnosis. Out of these x-ray is the most common used, while MRI and CT is the most sensitive. The pathogenesis of the disease is still not completely understood but there are three theories accepted; a vascular theory, pressure from the DDFT and a process similar to Osteoarthritis. The result is the same for either theory; you have a lame horse with limited treatment procedures which mostly consists of corrective ferriary work and shoeing.