Researchers at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine have identified a genetic cause for the fatal condition equine familial isolated hypoparathyroidism in Thoroughbreds, marking the first genetic variant for hypoparathyroidism identified in any domestic animal species. Additionally, this is the first widely available genetic test for Thoroughbreds.

The study, led by Drs. Carrie Finno and Gary Magdesian,  which was reported in the journal PLoS Genetics. Genetic testing can now be performed at the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory to identify horses with the variant and avoid mating carriers that could produce affected foals.

Read full news release from the UC Davis Center for Equine Health.