Polydactyly in a Murgese horse : a case report

For the first time, a case of atavic polydactyly is described in a Murgese breed foal born in Calabria, Italy. Cytogenetic analysis has not shown up any abnormality, and neither pedigree study supports the hypothesis of a recessive gene. Polydactyly, in this case, may be attributed to a dominant autosomal gene with incomplete penetrance or to abnormal fetal development due to external causes.