What does a dappled grey look like?

What is the scientific name for silver in horses?

Cat, “This dilution gene, “Z”, is most widely called “silver”, although in Australia it may be called “taffy”. Silver, or “silver dapple”, is the most widely accepted term. In the Rocky Mountain Horse breed, it is often called “Chocolate” or “Chocolate Flax”.”

How do you identify a silver dapple?

A silver dapple masked by gray (i.e. carries both genes and, because gray is a dominant gene, becomes white with age) may be identified by use of DNA testing. Liver chestnut: Silver dapples, especially bay silvers, are frequently misidentified as liver chestnuts or flaxen chestnuts.

Can ultrasound identify MCOA disorders in silver dapple horses?

Researchers found that ultrasound is a practical, fast, and easy-to-use tool for investigating MCOA disorders in silver dapple horses. Many horses with the silver dapple coat mutant gene suffer from multiple congenital ocular anomalies (MCOA) and other eye issues. Uniquely colored equine coats can be both eye-catching and eye disorder-causing.

What kind of eye problems do silver dapple coat horses have?

Many horses with the silver dapple coat mutant gene suffer from multiple congenital ocular anomalies (MCOA) and other eye issues. Uniquely colored equine coats can be both eye-catching and eye disorder-causing.

What is MCOA syndrome in horses?

Equine multiple congenital ocular anomalies (MCOA) syndrome describes a group of developmental abnormalities of the cornea, iris, lens, and ciliary body in the front portion of a horse’s eye. The condition is generally nonpainful and nonprogressive and has a genetic basis, stemming from a gene mutation.

What kind of vision does a horse have with cyst?

Most mildly affected horses have normal vision. Affected horses can be separated into Cyst and MCOA phenotypes (physical expressions of a genetic trait) depending on their types of ocular defects. Horses with the milder form (Cyst) appear normal and require rigorous ophthalmic examination for diagnosis.

Why do some horses have different colored coats?

Uniquely colored equine coats can be both eye-catching and eye disorder-causing. Take horses with the silver-coat mutant gene, for instance: Many suffer from multiple congenital ocular anomalies (MCOA), or eye issues that can cause, among other things, a bulbous bulging of the eye.

Is MCOA syndrome the same as silver coat color?

The same gene mutation causes both the Silver coat color and the MCOA syndrome in horses. However, the effect of the gene is different for these two traits.

What is multiple congenital ocular abnormalities syndrome (MCOA)?

Multiple Congenital Ocular Abnormalities syndrome (MCOA) is an eye disorder associated with presence of the silver dilution mutation in PMEL17 gene. MCOA is characterized by defects that occur in the anterior and posterior segment of the eye.

Are chestnut horses with MCOA silver dilute?

Chestnut horses with one or two copies of the MCOA variant will not be silver dilute but are still likely to develop ocular abnormalities/MCOA. Multiple Congenital Ocular Abnormalities syndrome (MCOA) is an eye disorder associated with presence of the silver dilution mutation in PMEL17 gene.

Is it possible for a horse to have MCOA?

However, an affected horse does not necessarily possess all these clinical signs. MCOA is most common in silver-colored Rocky Mountain Horses (RMH) and has also been observed in related breeds such as Kentucky Mount Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.

What is a cyst on a horse?

A cyst is a pocket of tissue that is shaped like a sac or cylinder and filled with tissue, fluid or air. Cysts of the epidermis in horses are cysts of the top layer of your horse’s skin. These are relatively uncommon in horses.

Why do horses have eyes on the side of head?

Horses’ eyes are set on the side of the head, rather than facing front as in people, dogs, and cats. This gives them extraordinary peripheral vision, which is useful for animals (for example, rabbits and most birds) that must constantly watch for predators.

What does MCOA stand for?

Phenotype: Multiple congenital ocular anomalies (MCOA) is associated with the silver dilution and is characterized by ocular cysts, enlargement of the cornea, abnormally formed iris/retina, and additional abnormalities. Alleles: N = Normal/Unaffected, Z = Multiple congenital ocular anomalies; Silver

Why test for silver dilution/MCOA?

Testing for the silver dilution/MCOA is important in assisting clinicians, owners, and breeders in identifying affected horses. Breeder can use results from the test as a tool for selection of mating pairs to avoid producing homozygous (Z/Z) individuals. The genetic test for the MCOA is the same as Silver Dilution for coat color.

What causes ocular defects in horses?

It has been argued that these ocular defects are caused by a recent mutation that is restricted to horses that are related to the Rocky Mountain Horse breed. For that reason we have examined another horse breed, the Icelandic horse, which is historically quite divergent from Rocky Mountain horses.

What to do if your horse has a cyst on its eye?

Treatment for corpora nigra cysts Following an eye exam, your veterinarian may refer your horse to an equine ophthalmologist to confirm the diagnosis and to discuss treatment options. Other conditions such as equine iris melanomas (tumours) will also need to be ruled out, as they can resemble cysts but are much more serious.

Is MCOA incomplete dominant or dominant?

It is incomplete dominant for the MCOA syndrome. This means that the homozygous horses (Z/Z) which inherited the gene from both parents have more severe ocular anomalies than the heterozygous horses (Z/z), only carry one Silver gene mutation.

What are the terms of the Loi with MCOA?

Under the terms of the LOI, MCOA has committed to contribute USD 2m in total cash to the project, as well as common shares of the company with a value of USD 1m. In exchange, MCOA will own a 20% equity position in NPE.

What does silver dilution mean on a horse?

A bay horse with the silver dilution will have lightened black pigment on the lower legs and flaxen mane and tail. Silver dilution is inherited as a dominant trait. This means that 1 copy of the silver allele is sufficient to produce the dilute phenotype in black-pigmented horses.

Why is MCOA testing important?

Testing for the silver dilution/MCOA is important in assisting clinicians, owners, and breeders in identifying affected horses. Breeder can use results from the test as a tool for selection of mating pairs to avoid producing homozygous (Z/Z) individuals.

What kind of horse has MCOA?

MCOA is most common in silver-colored Rocky Mountain Horses (RMH) and has also been observed in related breeds such as Kentucky Mount Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content. TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care.

Does Mu increase black pigment production in bay horses?

Bay horses homozygous for the mushroom phenotype have a lighter shade of red body with black counter shading, suggesting that Mu increases black pigment production having the opposite effect on black pigment as it does on red. Current genetic tests for dilution mutations in the horse include: