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Ocular squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
Summary
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common form of eye cancer in horses. SCC can be painful or irritating and has the potential to cause loss of vision, and eventually loss of the eye. SCC affects a number of breeds but is most common in Haflingers.
Horses that test as being high risk for SCC have a four to six times higher likelihood of getting SCC than horses that test negative or horses that test as carriers. If your horse tests as being high risk for SCC you may be able to help by ensuring your horse has regular eye checks and by fitting them with a UV-reducing fly mask during the day.
SCC risk is an autosomal recessive disorder. Autosomal disorders are equally likely to affect male or female horses, while "recessive" means that a horse needs to inherit the SCC risk factor from both its sire and its dam to be high risk.
Gene or region and technical reference
Gene: DDB2 (marker). Reference: Bellone et al. (2017)
Reported alleles
n. Test developed using artificial DNA and animal carriers.
R. Test developed using artificial DNA.
Panels: groups of tests that are often ordered together
This test is not in any panels.
