JEB (Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa, LAMC2)
Hereditary disorder of the anchoring between epidermis and dermis. In homozygous foals the skin detaches over large areas at the slightest friction, as does the hoof horn. In the Belgian draught breeds the cause is a variant in the LAMC2 gene. Carriers are completely healthy; the trait is unambiguously identifiable by gene test and therefore avoidable.
Veterinary care required
This condition belongs in veterinary diagnosis and treatment. Compounds are at most supportive.
Priority · vet & management
A foal with large-area skin detachment belongs in veterinary hands immediately. There is no treatment for the trait; the veterinary decision serves to spare suffering.
Possible causes
- · autosomal-recessive variant in the LAMC2 gene (Belgian draught breeds)
- · both parents are carriers
- · an analogous variant (LAMA3) affects the American saddle breeds
Supportive compounds · supplementary feed, not medication
Prevention
Test both parents before mating. Carrier x non-carrier is unproblematic, carrier x carrier is not.
Equiterna's take
Equiterna treats JEB like OLWS as a pure breeding question. In small draught populations excluding all carriers is not an option — the gene test allows keeping them and still producing no affected foals.
Usage note
This content is for information and education. It does not replace veterinary diagnosis or treatment. If your horse shows signs of illness, consult a veterinarian.
Equiterna is an intermediary platform for equine knowledge, marketplace and tools — not a veterinary-medicines dealer, veterinary practice or pharmacy. Compound information is study-attributed and free of healing claims. Legal framework: Regulation (EU) 2019/6 / TAMG (DE/AT), Feed Regulation (EC) 767/2009, FEI Prohibited Substances List, HWG.