Lavender Foal Syndrome (lfs)

Lavender foal syndrome (LFS), also known as coat color dilution lethal, is a neurological dysfunction in newborn foals. Symptoms are apparent at birth and include seizures, severe hyper-extension of limbs, neck and back, stiff paddling leg movements, involuntary eye movement and inability to stand or sit upright. The coat usually has a dilute color that ranges in shade from silver to a pale lavender/pink. As there is no treatment, affected foals are humanely euthanized. LFS is an autosomal recessive condition, thus a horse must inherit two copies of the allele (LFS/LFS) to show any signs. Horses with only one copy of the allele (LFS/N) are known as carriers due to their ability to produce affected foals.

MYO5A functions as part of a trafficking complex that serves to move important molecules in pigment cells and neurons. Mutations in humans result in Griscelli syndrome, which is characterized by dilute hair and neurological dysfunction. The LFS mutation is a single base deletion that results in a premature stop codon, and thus a truncated protein.

Publications

Brooks SA et al., “Whole-genome SNP association in the horse: identification of a deletion in myosin Va responsible for Lavender Foal Syndrome.” (2010) PLoS Genet. 6: e1000909. PMID: 20419149

Gabreski NA et al., “Investigation of allele frequencies for Lavender foal syndrome in the horse.” (2012) Anim Genet. 43: 650. PMID: 22497275

Tarr CJ et al., “The carrier prevalence of severe combined immunodeficiency, lavender foal syndrome and cerebellar abiotrophy in Arabian horses in South Africa.” (2014) Equine Vet J. 46: 512-4. PMID: 24033554