Hello Dr. Beth and everyone,
Dr. Beth, you've mentioned on-going research on genetic testing for EPSM. Today, I received information that the gene for EPSM has been identitifed; and that anyone can submit samples (hair or blood) from their horse for genetic testing for EPSM (U of Minnestota). Is identification of this gene a recent development? Or, have I been lost in the boonies? (Maybe both? ;-)
Thanks!
Betty

The University of Minnesota has just announced a genetic test that identifies some EPSM horses. I haven't seen the scientific publication yet as it is still in press, but from what I am hearing and reading they can identify about 80% of EPSM horses with their test. The test correctly identifies horses with the most severe muscle changes, such as Belgians, Percherons, Quarter horses, Paints, Appaloosas, and Haflingers. These are horses that this laboratory categorizes as Type 1 EPSM. What they call Type 2 EPSM horses have much less obvious changes in their muscles. Their findings are very interesting but it worries me that they can't identify about 20% of their muscle biopsy confirmed EPSM horses. I worry that the test may not be specific for EPSM, but rather for EPSM horses likely to develop severe muscle changes. That is useful, of course, and much less invasive than muscle biopsy. But, as with muscle enzyme levels in blood, a negative test won't completely rule out EPSM. Warmbloods, Arabians, Thoroughbreds, and Standardbreds are mostly going to be the Type 2 EPSM horses, and probably won't test positively with this test. More work needs to be done here, for sure!