A survey of ocular abnormalities in miniature horses.
Abstract: To determine the incidence of ocular abnormalities in miniature horses. Methods: Descriptive study. Methods: Fifty-three miniature horses. Methods: Ophthalmic examinations were performed using diffuse and focal illumination, slit-lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Coat color, mane and tail color, age and gender were recorded with results of ophthalmic examination. Results: Ocular abnormalities detected most frequently consisted of cysts arising from the posterior iris, ciliary body, and peripheral retina, curvilinear streaks of retinal pigmented epithelium extending from the peripheral temporal retina, and retinal dysplasia (folds). One miniature horse also had multiple ocular abnormalities (cornea globosa, goniosynechiae, decreased or absent and pupillary light reflexes, miotic and dyscoric pupils, iris hypoplasia, and epinuclear cataract). Ocular abnormalities were observed in horses that had a flaxen or white mane and tail color and a chocolate coat color. Conclusions: Abnormal ocular phenotype detected in eyes of Miniature Horses was similar to multiple congenital and hereditary ocular abnormalities reported in the Rocky Mountain Horse. Phenotypic ocular developmental abnormalities and coat, mane and tail color were most compatible with a heterozygous or homozygous effect of the Silver Dapple locus.
© 2011 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
Publication Date: 2011-04-18 PubMed ID: 21733064DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2010.00868.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research is about a survey conducted on miniature horses to understand their eye abnormalities. The study reveals the most common eye irregularities and correlates them with the horse’s genetic makeup, particularly their coat, mane and tail color.
Methods
- The research used a descriptive study method, examining 53 miniature horses.
- For the examination, various ophthalmic tools and techniques were employed including diffuse and focal illumination, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and indirect ophthalmoscopy.
- Detailed records were kept noting each horse’s coat color, mane and tail color, age, and gender, along with the results of the ophthalmic examination.
Results
- The most frequent ocular irregularities observed were cysts developing from the posterior iris, the ciliary body, and the peripheral retina.
- Other common abnormalities included curvilinear streaks of retinal pigmented epithelium stretching from the peripheral temporal retina and retinal dysplasia (folds).
- One of the miniature horses was found to have multiple eye abnormalities, including cornea globosa, goniosynechiae, decreased or no pupillary light reflexes, miotic and dyscoric pupils, iris hypoplasia, and an epinuclear cataract.
- The study found ocular abnormalities to be more prevalent in horses with a flaxen or white mane and tail color and a chocolate coat color.
Conclusions
- The research concluded that the ocular irregularities detected in the eyes of miniature horses were similar to those reported in the Rocky Mountain Horse – a breed known for various hereditary ocular abnormalities.
- The researchers determined that the ocular developmental abnormalities and coat, mane and tail color were most likely linked to a heterozygous or homozygous effect of the Silver Dapple gene locus.
The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of equine ocular health, pointing to a possible genetic link to certain eye problems. This could potentially guide future breeding programs and eye care for miniature horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Plummer CE, Ramsey DT.
(2011).
A survey of ocular abnormalities in miniature horses.
Vet Ophthalmol, 14(4), 239-243.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-5224.2010.00868.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0126, USA. plummerc@ufl.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Eye Diseases / epidemiology
- Eye Diseases / pathology
- Eye Diseases / veterinary
- Female
- Hair / physiology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Incidence
- Male
- Michigan / epidemiology
- Pigmentation
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Ing ST, Pinard CL, James-Jenks EM, Leis ML. A retrospective survey of equine ocular diseases evaluated at a referral hospital in Ontario (2011 to 2021). Can Vet J 2025 Mar;66(3):308-317.
- Gerras J, Young K, Roberts D, Waldman G, Salmon JH, Gilger BC. Uveitis and blindness in a closed herd of Equidae following leptospiral infection. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1504990.
- Allen R, Goodhead AD. A survey of ocular pathology in Warmblood horses in South Africa. Equine Vet J 2025 Jul;57(4):889-897.
- Johansson MK, Jäderkvist Fegraeus K, Lindgren G, Ekesten B. The refractive state of the eye in Icelandic horses with the Silver mutation. BMC Vet Res 2017 Jun 2;13(1):153.
- Andersson LS, Wilbe M, Viluma A, Cothran G, Ekesten B, Ewart S, Lindgren G. Equine multiple congenital ocular anomalies and silver coat colour result from the pleiotropic effects of mutant PMEL. PLoS One 2013;8(9):e75639.
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