Working Toward a Genetic Test for Heart Arrhythmias

Cardiac arrhythmias are thought to be an important cause of sudden death in horses during exercise. Most horses that develop arrhythmias have no underlying structural heart disease, making it challenging to detect animals at risk for sudden death. Genetic testing can be used in people for identify high-risk individuals. In this study, researchers will test if known genetic mutations are associated with cardiac arrhythmias in Standardbred racehorses. If successful, the team will use this information to develop genetic tests as well as other screening protocols for early identification of at-risk horses for cardiac arrhythmias.