Researchers Investigate Naked Foal Syndrome in Akhal-Tekes
Naked foal syndrome is related to a nonsense gene variant and appears to be unique to Akhal-Tekes. | Courtesy Anina Bauer/G3
The Sphynx cat breed might have a popular following for its uniqueness as a hairless cat. But in horses, hairlessness is linked to serious health issues—and usually death. Currently limited to the Akhal-Teke breed, “naked foal syndrome” has led to the death of most known cases by 3 years of age.

In a groundbreaking study, an international group of researchers has uncovered the gene responsible for naked foal syndrome, which could help Akhal-Teke breeders eliminate the condition completely.

“We have shown that the naked foal syndrome in Akhal-Teke horses is related to a nonsense variant that we have found in a single gene on Chromosome 7, which appears to be unique to this breed among horses,” Anina Bauer, PhD student at the University of Bern, Switzerland, said at the 2017 Swiss Equine Research Day, held earlier this year in Avenches.

Mutations of the affected gene, identified as ST14, are also known to cause skin disorders in humans, said Bauer. “The association between ST14 and autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis in humans strengthens our finding that this is the gene responsible for the condition in horses,” she said

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