Genome Diversity and the Origin of the Arabian Horse

Elissa J. Cosgrove; Raheleh Sadeghi; Florencia Schlamp; Heather M. Holl; Mohammad Moradi-Shahrbabak; Seyed Reza Miraei-Ashtiani; Salma Abdalla; Ben Shykind; Mats Troedsson; Monika Stefaniuk-Szmukier; Anil Prabhu; Stefania Bucca; Monika Bugno-Poniewierska; Barbara Wallner; Joel Malek; Donald C. Miller; Andrew G. Clark; Douglas F. Antczak; Samantha A. Brooks

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-66232-1

Genome Diversity and the Origin of the Arabian Horse

Elissa J. Cosgrove, Raheleh Sadeghi, Florencia Schlamp, Heather M. Holl, Mohammad Moradi-Shahrbabak, Seyed Reza Miraei-Ashtiani, Salma Abdalla, Ben Shykind, Mats Troedsson, Monika Stefaniuk-Szmukier, Anil Prabhu, Stefania Bucca, Monika Bugno-Poniewierska, Barbara Wallner, Joel Malek, Donald C. Miller, Andrew G. Clark, Douglas F. Antczak, Samantha A. Brooks

Veterinary Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Arabian horse, one of the world’s oldest breeds of any domesticated animal, is characterized by natural beauty, graceful movement, athletic endurance, and, as a result of its development in the arid Middle East, the ability to thrive in a hot, dry environment. Here we studied 378 Arabian horses from 12 countries using equine single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays and whole-genome re-sequencing to examine hypotheses about genomic diversity, population structure, and the relationship of the Arabian to other horse breeds. We identified a high degree of genetic variation and complex ancestry in Arabian horses from the Middle East region. Also, contrary to popular belief, we could detect no significant genomic contribution of the Arabian breed to the Thoroughbred racehorse, including Y chromosome ancestry. However, we found strong evidence for recent interbreeding of Thoroughbreds with Arabians used for flat-racing competitions. Genetic signatures suggestive of selective sweeps across the Arabian breed contain candidate genes for combating oxidative damage during exercise, and within the “Straight Egyptian” subgroup, for facial morphology. Overall, our data support an origin of the Arabian horse in the Middle East, no evidence for reduced global genetic diversity across the breed, and unique genetic adaptations for both physiology and conformation.

Original language	English
Article number	9702
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	10
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-66232-1
State	Published - Dec 1 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was made possible by National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) grant 6-1303-4-023 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors. Support was also received from The Harry M. Zweig Memorial Fund for Equine Research, Arabian Horse Foundation, Animal Health Foundation, Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Foundation, Inc. (DFA), and a Meinig Family Investigator award (AGC). We would like to thank the many Arabian horse farm owners, trainers, veterinarians, and staff who helped to supply samples for this study, including from Poland, Dr. Marek Trela of Janów Podlaski Stud, Dr. Jerzy Białobok of Michałów Stud, and Ms. Renata Kurzyńska of Białka Stud. We also appreciate advice on the history and bloodlines of the Arabian horse provided by Beth Minnich, Judith Forbis, Hans Nagel, Cynthia Culbertson, and Deirdre Hyde.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, The Author(s).

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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10.1038/s41598-020-66232-1

Cite this

Cosgrove, E. J., Sadeghi, R., Schlamp, F., Holl, H. M., Moradi-Shahrbabak, M., Miraei-Ashtiani, S. R., Abdalla, S., Shykind, B., Troedsson, M., Stefaniuk-Szmukier, M., Prabhu, A., Bucca, S., Bugno-Poniewierska, M., Wallner, B., Malek, J., Miller, D. C., Clark, A. G., Antczak, D. F., & Brooks, S. A. (2020). Genome Diversity and the Origin of the Arabian Horse. Scientific Reports, 10(1), [9702]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-66232-1

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abstract = "The Arabian horse, one of the world{\textquoteright}s oldest breeds of any domesticated animal, is characterized by natural beauty, graceful movement, athletic endurance, and, as a result of its development in the arid Middle East, the ability to thrive in a hot, dry environment. Here we studied 378 Arabian horses from 12 countries using equine single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays and whole-genome re-sequencing to examine hypotheses about genomic diversity, population structure, and the relationship of the Arabian to other horse breeds. We identified a high degree of genetic variation and complex ancestry in Arabian horses from the Middle East region. Also, contrary to popular belief, we could detect no significant genomic contribution of the Arabian breed to the Thoroughbred racehorse, including Y chromosome ancestry. However, we found strong evidence for recent interbreeding of Thoroughbreds with Arabians used for flat-racing competitions. Genetic signatures suggestive of selective sweeps across the Arabian breed contain candidate genes for combating oxidative damage during exercise, and within the “Straight Egyptian” subgroup, for facial morphology. Overall, our data support an origin of the Arabian horse in the Middle East, no evidence for reduced global genetic diversity across the breed, and unique genetic adaptations for both physiology and conformation.",

author = "Cosgrove, {Elissa J.} and Raheleh Sadeghi and Florencia Schlamp and Holl, {Heather M.} and Mohammad Moradi-Shahrbabak and Miraei-Ashtiani, {Seyed Reza} and Salma Abdalla and Ben Shykind and Mats Troedsson and Monika Stefaniuk-Szmukier and Anil Prabhu and Stefania Bucca and Monika Bugno-Poniewierska and Barbara Wallner and Joel Malek and Miller, {Donald C.} and Clark, {Andrew G.} and Antczak, {Douglas F.} and Brooks, {Samantha A.}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was made possible by National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) grant 6-1303-4-023 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors. Support was also received from The Harry M. Zweig Memorial Fund for Equine Research, Arabian Horse Foundation, Animal Health Foundation, Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Foundation, Inc. (DFA), and a Meinig Family Investigator award (AGC). We would like to thank the many Arabian horse farm owners, trainers, veterinarians, and staff who helped to supply samples for this study, including from Poland, Dr. Marek Trela of Jan{\'o}w Podlaski Stud, Dr. Jerzy Bia{\l}obok of Micha{\l}{\'o}w Stud, and Ms. Renata Kurzy{\'n}ska of Bia{\l}ka Stud. We also appreciate advice on the history and bloodlines of the Arabian horse provided by Beth Minnich, Judith Forbis, Hans Nagel, Cynthia Culbertson, and Deirdre Hyde. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020, The Author(s).",

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Cosgrove, EJ, Sadeghi, R, Schlamp, F, Holl, HM, Moradi-Shahrbabak, M, Miraei-Ashtiani, SR, Abdalla, S, Shykind, B, Troedsson, M, Stefaniuk-Szmukier, M, Prabhu, A, Bucca, S, Bugno-Poniewierska, M, Wallner, B, Malek, J, Miller, DC, Clark, AG, Antczak, DF & Brooks, SA 2020, 'Genome Diversity and the Origin of the Arabian Horse', Scientific Reports, vol. 10, no. 1, 9702. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-66232-1

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AU - Cosgrove, Elissa J.

AU - Sadeghi, Raheleh

AU - Schlamp, Florencia

AU - Holl, Heather M.

AU - Moradi-Shahrbabak, Mohammad

AU - Miraei-Ashtiani, Seyed Reza

AU - Abdalla, Salma

AU - Shykind, Ben

AU - Troedsson, Mats

AU - Stefaniuk-Szmukier, Monika

AU - Prabhu, Anil

AU - Bucca, Stefania

AU - Bugno-Poniewierska, Monika

AU - Wallner, Barbara

AU - Malek, Joel

AU - Miller, Donald C.

AU - Clark, Andrew G.

AU - Antczak, Douglas F.

AU - Brooks, Samantha A.

N1 - Funding Information: This study was made possible by National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) grant 6-1303-4-023 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors. Support was also received from The Harry M. Zweig Memorial Fund for Equine Research, Arabian Horse Foundation, Animal Health Foundation, Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Foundation, Inc. (DFA), and a Meinig Family Investigator award (AGC). We would like to thank the many Arabian horse farm owners, trainers, veterinarians, and staff who helped to supply samples for this study, including from Poland, Dr. Marek Trela of Janów Podlaski Stud, Dr. Jerzy Białobok of Michałów Stud, and Ms. Renata Kurzyńska of Białka Stud. We also appreciate advice on the history and bloodlines of the Arabian horse provided by Beth Minnich, Judith Forbis, Hans Nagel, Cynthia Culbertson, and Deirdre Hyde. Publisher Copyright: © 2020, The Author(s).

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Y1 - 2020/12/1

N2 - The Arabian horse, one of the world’s oldest breeds of any domesticated animal, is characterized by natural beauty, graceful movement, athletic endurance, and, as a result of its development in the arid Middle East, the ability to thrive in a hot, dry environment. Here we studied 378 Arabian horses from 12 countries using equine single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays and whole-genome re-sequencing to examine hypotheses about genomic diversity, population structure, and the relationship of the Arabian to other horse breeds. We identified a high degree of genetic variation and complex ancestry in Arabian horses from the Middle East region. Also, contrary to popular belief, we could detect no significant genomic contribution of the Arabian breed to the Thoroughbred racehorse, including Y chromosome ancestry. However, we found strong evidence for recent interbreeding of Thoroughbreds with Arabians used for flat-racing competitions. Genetic signatures suggestive of selective sweeps across the Arabian breed contain candidate genes for combating oxidative damage during exercise, and within the “Straight Egyptian” subgroup, for facial morphology. Overall, our data support an origin of the Arabian horse in the Middle East, no evidence for reduced global genetic diversity across the breed, and unique genetic adaptations for both physiology and conformation.

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Genome Diversity and the Origin of the Arabian Horse

Abstract

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