Equine ocular squamous cell carcinoma: Genetic associations

Corneal neoplasia in horses

“…Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure is a well‐documented risk factor for the development of squamous cell carcinoma in many species, with the risk rising with increasing exposure to solar radiation and higher altitude (Dugan et al., 1991). The condition appears more frequently in breeds with the least periocular pigmentation such as Appaloosa and American Paint breeds, although horses with a chestnut coat colour and some heavy horse breeds, such as Clydesdale, with darkly pigmented periocular regions also show an increase in incidence (Dugan et al., 1991a; Lassaline, 2021). In addition, data suggest that Haflinger horses are also overrepresented.…”