A research project funded by The Horse Trust has discovered for the first time the expression of a protein in horses known to be important in maintaining pregnancy. The cause of fetal loss in pregnant mares is unknown in around 20% of cases.
Maintaining a viable pregnancy is dependent on the ability of the mother's immune system to 'tolerate' the immunologically 'foreign' fetus. The ways in which mares tolerate the developing fetus is not fully understood, but in humans, primates and mice a protein called indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) produced by the pregnant uterus has been shown to be important.
Infertility and fetal loss are a significant problem within the equine industry, causing distress to mares and horse owners and substantial losses of both time and money.
The research aimed to understand more about how pregnancy is maintained in horses and to investigate further into how equine herpevirus may trigger fetal loss.
The project was undertaken by Dr Lucy Woolford at the Royal Veterinary College, who now works as a Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology at the University of Adelaide, Australia.
Dr Woolford said she believes the research is "the first study ever to describe the expression and localization of IDO in equine tissues."
"More research is needed to understand the immunology of pregnancy and how IDO might contribute to maintenance of pregnancy in mares. More research is also needed to further understand how equine causes fetal loss."
Dr. Woolford's research has been submitted for publication in a veterinary journal.