The answer to a foal lost during pregnancy is most often, “I don’t know.” Not satisfied with that answer, Mandi de Mestre, BVSc, PhD, PGCAP, MRCVS, refocused on the embryo to uncover possible reasons why they survive. Her ongoing research on the genetics of equine embryos overlaps with similar questions in human pregnancy loss, specifically recognizing gene copying errors.
de Mestre says the next step in the process will be developing diagnostic tests that could provide owners with data on whether a gene-copying error is to blame for early pregnancy loss.
Source: Paulick Report, June 22, 2025. Link.
Image: Link.