Severe combined immunodeficiency / SCID (PRKDC-related) - Arabian horse

SCID in Arabian horses

This genetic test detects the PRKDC deletion c.9478_9482del that causes severe combined immunodeficiency, also known as SCID or Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease, in Arabian horses and related lines.

Affected foals are often born looking normal, but they lack a properly functioning immune system. Infections such as pneumonia and diarrhoea can therefore become severe very quickly. The disorder is autosomal recessive: carriers are healthy themselves, but can pass the variant to offspring.

How to read the result

• N/N means the tested SCID variant was not detected.
• N/del means the horse is a carrier.
• del/del causes SCID.

Practical value of this test

The result helps breeders reliably identify carriers and plan matings that avoid affected foals. For owners and veterinarians it provides clear genetic information when young foals show severe susceptibility to infections.