Naked Foal Syndrome (NFS, ST14)
Hereditary disorder of the skin barrier in the Akhal-Teke. Homozygous foals are born without a coat; the skin barrier is incomplete, fluid loss and infections follow. The cause is a recessive variant in the ST14 gene. Carriers are healthy and normally coated.
Veterinary care required
This condition belongs in veterinary diagnosis and treatment. Compounds are at most supportive.
Priority · vet & management
A coatless foal belongs in veterinary care immediately. There is no causal treatment; the decision on how to proceed is taken by the vet together with the owner.
Possible causes
- · autosomal-recessive variant in the ST14 gene
- · both parents are carriers
- · described exclusively in the Akhal-Teke
Supportive compounds · supplementary feed, not medication
Prevention
Gene test before mating. In the very small world population of the Akhal-Teke, excluding all carriers is not genetically sustainable — the test allows keeping them in breeding without producing affected foals.
Equiterna's take
Equiterna classifies NFS as an example of why carrier status need not mean exclusion from breeding: in small populations a blanket exclusion costs more genetic diversity than it removes risk. The gene test replaces excluding with planning.
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.