Hidranencefalia congênita equina: relato de caso

Abstract

The equine species was seen for a long time with lower fertility among domestic species, and in view of this condition, over the last few years the veterinary market has emphasized equine reproduction. From this perspective, embryo transfer allowed the optimization of genetically superior animals in a more efficient way. In contrast, genetic selection has considerably increased the potential for the emergence and spread of genetic defects. Most hereditary birth defects are transmitted by autosomal recessive genes. Thus, the present study aimed to report a case of equine congenital hydranencephaly. Hydranencephaly is the most severe form of bilateral cerebral cortical destruction, characterized by cavitation in areas normally occupied by the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres. As it is a rare event in the equine species, with a limited number of publications on the subject, this case report describes a dystocic delivery of a recipient of the Mestiça Crioula breed, submitted to an embryo transfer program on a property in the interior of the city of Apucarana - PR. It discusses the possible causes of hydranencephaly among different domestic species, as well as correlates with the effect of a hereditary defect. The efficiency of the genetic improvement basically depends on the actions of creation and the identification of superior genotypes, because currently the genetic selection has been applied based on phenotypic data evaluated in the field. However, there is low heritability of athletic performance and genetic correlation values ​​between the most desired traits in horses. Thus, the hypothesis of a hereditary defects in the case reported is plausible and should be verified, in addition to research on genetic improvement, which are capable of directing crosses of animals of different lineages, avoiding equine inbreeding.