Fell Pony Syndrome

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gillianfleming

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I just wondered if anyone can tell me a bit more about it, sisters fell mare had a foal this week and we wondered if anyone has any info about it.
Also can you test for fell pony syndrome with a blood test.
I know this should probably be in the breeding section but i hoped we might get more of a response from here.
Thank you
 
The syndrome only affects foals in the first weeks of life and they will die usually within the first two months of life. They do not die from the syndrome, which is not actually an illness, but will die of an infection that they are unable to fight as the syndrome affects the efficiency of the foal's immune system.
If you google Fell Pony Syndrome, there is lots of info on "it".
Most of the cases I have known about have become ill with in the first 10 days or so.
I would try not to worry too much just enjoy!!
There is a couple of good fell pony forums on yahoo, which have a number of well respected fell breeders on them who could give you more info.
 
This is a copy of a notice we were given to circulat to our vets. FFS or Equine immunodeficency syndrome as it is now termed has also been found in the Dales pony
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Educate your vet about the issue and the need to monitor foals if they are unwell from 3-12 weeks
Be vigilant for clinical signs in foals after 3 weeks of age; diarrhoea, nasal discharge, heavy breathing, poor weight gain, other infections, lethargy. If immunodeficiency suspected get vet to take blood sample for “full blood count”. If there are any foals with PCV values below 20, immediately, contact on of the team. We will then need a further 2 blood samples (one in EDTA, one in herapin) to go to Liverpool Vet School (SDC) for B lymphocyte testing to confirm the syndrome.
Remember. This condition is terminal, there is NO effective treatment if diagnosis is confirmed.
You can avoid syndrome foals by not breeding two carriers together. Breeding from 2 carriers gives a 1 in 4 chance of producing a syndrome foal and a 1 in 2 chance of producing a carrier. Unfortunately, the only current way to identify carriers is from birth of syndrome foals.
The aim of the research is to provide a carrier test to enable breeding combinations to be selected which avoid syndrome foals and will enable the numbers of carriers to be reduced or eliminated.
 
Thanks very much for all the info, as a first time breeder its something we find quite worrying.

Would people normally go down the route of having a foal tested at a couple of weeks old?
 
Currently there is no test ( a friend e-mailed the researchers a few weeks back and still no sign of it going live). But one possible sign is anaemia [sp?]that can be tested for once the protective effects of the mares collostrum have worn off.
In the first instance I would contact who bred your mare and the owner of the stallion you used and ask if the have ever had a syndrome foal. Most breeders will be honest with you.
Fingers crossed that your foal stays healthy!
 
I think Leahurst does research into this, and have a feeling that is is Derek Knottenbelt there. You could try contacting him.
 
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